Publications

high rates of rickettsia parkeri infection in gulf coast ticks (amblyomma maculatum) and identification of "candidatus rickettsia andeanae" from fairfax county, virginia.	the gulf coast tick, amblyomma maculatum, is a vector of rickettsia parkeri, a recently identified human pathogen that causes a disease with clinical symptoms that resemble a mild form of rocky mountain spotted fever. because the prevalence of r. parkeri infection in geographically distinct populations of a. maculatum is not fully understood, a. maculatum specimens collected as part of a tick and pathogen surveillance system in fairfax county, virginia, were screened to determine pathogen infect ...	2011	21867421
updates on borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex with respect to public health.	borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex is a diverse group of worldwide distributed bacteria that includes 18 named spirochete species and a still not named group proposed as genomospecies 2. descriptions of new species and variants continue to be recognized, so the current number of described species is probably not final. most of known spirochete species are considered to have a limited distribution. eleven species from the b. burgdorferi s.l. complex were identified in and strictly ass ...	2011	21890064
evaluation of glycoproteins purified from adult and larval camel ticks (hyalomma dromedarii) as a candidate vaccine.	in order to identify antigens that can help prevent camel tick infestations, three major glycoproteins (glps) about 97, 66 and 40 kda in size were purified from adult and larval egyptian ticks, hyalomma (h.) dromedarii, using a single-step purification method with con-a sepharose. the purified glps were evaluated as vaccines against camel tick infestation in rabbits. the rabbits received three intramuscular inoculations of glps (20 µg/animal) on days 0, 14, and 28. in the immunoblot analysis, se ...	2011	21897098
structure of thymidylate kinase from ehrlichia chaffeensis.	the enzyme thymidylate kinase phosphorylates the substrate thymidine 5'-phosphate (dtmp) to form thymidine 5'-diphosphate (dtdp), which is further phosphorylated to dttp for incorporation into dna. ehrlichia chaffeensis is the etiologic agent of human monocytotropic erlichiosis (hme), a potentially life-threatening tick-borne infection. hme is endemic in the united states from the southern states up to the eastern seaboard. hme is transmitted to humans via the lone star tick amblyomma americanum ...	2011	21904055
Ehrlichia chaffeensis transcriptome in mammalian and arthropod hosts reveals differential gene expression and post transcriptional regulation.	Human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis is an emerging life-threatening zoonosis caused by obligately intracellular bacterium, Ehrlichia chaffeensis. E. chaffeensis is transmitted by the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, and replicates in mononuclear phagocytes in mammalian hosts. Differences in the E. chaffeensis transcriptome in mammalian and arthropod hosts are unknown. Thus, we determined host-specific E. chaffeensis gene expression in human monocyte (THP-1) and in Amblyomma and Ixodes tick ce ...	2011	21915290
Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI) in the North: STARI following a tick bite in Long Island, New York.	The most common clinical manifestation of Lyme disease is the characteristic rash, erythema migrans (EM). In the 1980s EM-like eruptions were reported in Missouri and other southeastern states. The EM-like eruptions, which were of unknown etiology, often followed the bite of the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum) and the rash is called STARI (southern tick-associated rash illness). Although the Lone Star tick is found in the Lyme disease-endemic areas of New England and Mid-Atlantic regions o ...	2011	21940418
First transcriptome of the testis-vas deferens-male accessory gland and proteome of the spermatophore from Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae).	Ticks are important vectors of numerous human diseases and animal diseases. Feeding stimulates spermatogenesis, mating and insemination of male factors that trigger female reproduction. The physiology of male reproduction and its regulation of female development are essentially a black box. Several transcriptomes have catalogued expression of tick genes in the salivary glands, synganglion and midgut but no comprehensive investigation has addressed male reproduction and mating. Consequently, a ne ...	2011	21949745
implication of haematophagous arthropod salivary proteins in host-vector interactions.	the saliva of haematophagous arthropods contains an array of anti-haemostatic, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory molecules that contribute to the success of the blood meal. the saliva of haematophagous arthropods is also involved in the transmission and the establishment of pathogens in the host and in allergic responses. this survey provides a comprehensive overview of the pharmacological activity and immunogenic properties of the main salivary proteins characterised in various haematophag ...	2011	21951834
tick cell lines for study of crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus and other arboviruses.	abstract continuous cell lines derived from many of the vectors of tick-borne arboviruses of medical and veterinary importance are now available. their role as tools in arbovirus research to date is reviewed and their potential application in studies of tick cell responses to virus infection is explored, by comparison with recent progress in understanding mosquito immunity to arbovirus infection. a preliminary study of propagation of the human pathogen crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus (cc ...	2011	21955214
Infection prevalences of common tick-borne pathogens in adult lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum) and American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) in Kentucky.	Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, and ehrlichiosis are tick-borne diseases that are reported annually in Kentucky. We conducted a survey to describe infection prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis ticks collected in Kentucky. During 2007-2008, we collected 287 ticks (179 D. variabilis and 108 A. americanum) from canine, feral hog, horse, raccoon, white-tailed deer, and human hosts in six counties in Kentucky. Ticks were screened for Ricke ...	2011	21976578
Geographical distribution and prevalence of selected Borrelia, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia infections in Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) in New Jersey.	We used published accounts to describe the known statewide distribution of the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, in New Jersey and field surveys to characterize the geographical range of A. americanum and selected A. americanum-transmitted pathogens in Monmouth County, the hypothesized northern limit of the species distribution. Ticks were collected using standardized methods from 50 widely dispersed public access areas within 18 municipalities to produce estimates of relative abundance amon ...	2011	22017087
brown spider (loxosceles genus) venom toxins: tools for biological purposes.	venomous animals use their venoms as tools for defense or predation. these venoms are complex mixtures, mainly enriched of proteic toxins or peptides with several, and different, biological activities. in general, spider venom is rich in biologically active molecules that are useful in experimental protocols for pharmacology, biochemistry, cell biology and immunology, as well as putative tools for biotechnology and industries. spider venoms have recently garnered much attention from several rese ...	2011	22069711
The indoor air and asthma: the role of cat allergens.	The objective is to discuss recent progress in our understanding of the role of the indoor environment in asthma, focusing on the special role of cat allergens.	2012	22081090
neural control of salivary glands in ixodid ticks.	studies of tick salivary glands (sgs) and their components have produced a number of interesting discoveries over the last four decades. however, the precise neural and physiological mechanisms controlling sg secretion remain enigmatic. major studies of sg control have identified and characterized many pharmacological and biological compounds that activate salivary secretion, including dopamine (da), octopamine, γ-aminobutyric acid (gaba), ergot alkaloids, pilocarpine (pc), and their pharmacolog ...	2011	22119563
essential oils of cupressus funebris, juniperus communis, and j. chinensis (cupressaceae) as repellents against ticks (acari: ixodidae) and mosquitoes (diptera: culicidae) and as toxicants against mosquitoes.	juniperus communis leaf oil, j. chinensis wood oil, and cupressus funebris wood oil (cupressaceae) from china were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. we identified 104 compounds, representing 66.8-95.5% of the oils. the major components were: α-pinene (27.0%), α-terpinene (14.0%), and linalool (10.9%) for j. communis; cuparene (11.3%) and δ-cadinene (7.8%) for j. chinensis; and α-cedrene (16.9%), cedrol (7.6%), and β-cedrene (5.7%) for c. funebris. the essen ...	2011	22129397
evaluation of 4-poster acaricide applicators to manage tick populations associated with disease risk in a tennessee retirement community.	in 1993, four residents of a retirement community in middle tennessee were hospitalized with symptoms of ehrlichiosis causing community managers to implement mitigation methods to reduce tick numbers. for the past four years, managers have utilized 4-poster acaricide applicators that aim to reduce disease risk to residents by killing ticks that feed on deer. to determine the efficacy of this technique, we assessed amblyomma americanum abundance in the vicinity of the devices by dragging 400 m ve ...	2011	22129412
elimination of borrelia burgdorferi and anaplasma phagocytophilum in rodent reservoirs and ixodes scapularis ticks using a doxycycline hyclate-laden bait.	a field trial was conducted in a lyme disease-endemic area of new jersey to determine the efficacy of a doxycyline hyclate rodent bait to prophylactically protect and cure small-mammal reservoirs and reduce infection rates in questing ixodes scapularis ticks for borrelia burgdorferi and anaplasma phagocytophilum. the doxycycline-laden bait was formulated at a concentration of 500 mg/kg and delivered during the immature tick feeding season in rodent-targeted bait boxes. the percentage of infected ...	2011	22144454
evolution, expansion and expression of the kunitz/bpti gene family associated with long-term blood feeding in ixodes scapularis.	abstract: background: recent studies of the tick saliva transcriptome have revealed the profound role of salivary proteins in blood feeding. kunitz/bpti proteins are abundant in the salivary glands of ticks and perform multiple functions in blood feeding, such as inhibiting blood coagulation, regulating host blood supply and disrupting host angiogenesis. however, kunitz/bpti proteins in soft and hard ticks have different functions and molecular mechanisms. how these differences emerged and whet ...	2012	22244187
determinants of food allergy.	food allergy is an emerging epidemic in the united states and the western world. the determination of factors that make certain foods allergenic is still not clearly understood. only a tiny fraction of thousands of proteins and other molecules is responsible for inducing food allergy. in this review, the authors present 3 examples of food allergies with disparate clinical presentations: peanut, soy, and mammalian meat. the potential relationships between allergen structure and function, emphasiz ...	0	22244230
food-induced anaphylaxis.	food-induced anaphylaxis (fia) is a serious allergic reaction that may cause death rapidly in otherwise healthy individuals. there is no universal agreement on its definition or criteria for diagnosis. hospital admissions for fia have more than doubled in the last decade. food is one of the most common causes of anaphylaxis, with most surveys indicating that food-induced reactions account for 30% to 50% of cases. the most commonly implicated foods are peanut, tree nuts, milk, eggs, sesame seeds, ...	2011	22244239
galactose-α-1,3-galactose-specific ige is associated with anaphylaxis but not asthma.	ige antibodies to the mammalian oligosaccharide galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal) are common in the southeastern united states. these antibodies, which are induced by ectoparasitic ticks, can give rise to positive skin tests or serum assays with cat extract.	2012	22281828
detection of wolbachia in the tick ixodes ricinus is due to the presence of the hymenoptera endoparasitoid ixodiphagus hookeri.	the identification of micro-organisms carried by ticks is an important issue for human and animal health. in addition to their role as pathogen vectors, ticks are also the hosts for symbiotic bacteria whose impact on tick biology is poorly known. among these, the bacterium wolbachia pipientis has already been reported associated with ixodes ricinus and other tick species. however, the origins of wolbachia in ticks and their consequences on tick biology (known to be very diverse in invertebrates, ...	2012	22292021
experimental use of two standard tick collection methods to evaluate the relative effectiveness of several plant-derived and synthetic repellents against ixodes scapularis and amblyomma americanum (acari: ixodidae).	we used two standard tick collection methods to test the relative effectiveness of two natural product compounds (nootkatone and carvacrol, classified as an eremophilene sesquiterpene and a monoterpene, respectively, that are derived from botanical sources) with commercially-available plant-derived (ecosmart organic insect repellent, comprised of plant essential oils) and permethrin-based (repel permanone) repellents against ixodes scapularis say and amblyomma americanum (l.). cloth drags were e ...	2011	22299371
the sialotranscriptome of antricola delacruzi female ticks is compatible with non-hematophagous behavior and an alternative source of food.	the hosts for antricola delacruzi ticks are insectivorous, cave-dwelling bats on which only larvae are found. the mouthparts of nymphal and adult a. delacruzi are compatible with scavenging feeding because the hypostome is small and toothless. how a single blood meal of a larva provides energy for several molts as well as for oviposition by females is not known. adults of a. delacruzi possibly feed upon an unknown food source in bat guano, a substrate on which nymphal and adult stages are always ...	2012	22306723
efficacy of plant-derived and synthetic compounds on clothing as repellents against ixodes scapularis and amblyomma americanum (acari: ixodidae).	we conducted field trials to compare the relative repellent activity of two natural product compounds (nootkatone and carvacrol) with commercially available plant-derived (ecosmart organic insect repellent) and permethrin-based (repel permanone) repellents against adult ixodes scapularis say and amblyomma americanum (l.) (acari: ixodidae) by using treated coveralls. one day after treatment, nootkatone and carvacrol provided 100% repellency of i. scapularis adults, with nootkatone maintaining com ...	2012	22308777
distribution and infection frequency of 'candidatus rickettsia amblyommii' in maryland populations of the lone star tick (amblyomma americanum) and culture in an anopheles gambiae mosquito cell line.	amblyomma americanum (the lone star tick) is a broadly distributed tick that transmits multiple pathogens of humans and domestic animals. 'candidatus rickettsia amblyommii' is a spotted-fever group rickettsial species that is potentially associated with human disease. in 2008 and 2009, we assayed over 500 unfed adult ticks from 19 maryland populations for the presence of 'candidatus r. amblyommii'. infection frequencies ranged from 33% to 100%, with an average infection rate of 60% in 2008 and 6 ...	2011	22309857
the ecology of fear: host foraging behavior varies with the spatio-temporal abundance of a dominant ectoparasite.	prey engage in myriad behaviors to avoid predation, and these indirect effects of predators on their prey are often measured by the amount of food abandoned by a forager (the "giving-up density", or gud) in a given habitat. recent evidence suggests that hosts may engage in comparable behaviors to avoid exposure to parasites. we investigated changes in local foraging and regional space use by mammal hosts for the lone star tick (amblyomma americanum), using guds as an indicator of the perceived r ...	2012	22311098
seroprevalence of ehrlichia canis, ehrlichia chaffeensis and ehrlichia ewingii in dogs in north america.	this study evaluated the exposure of dogs to three different ehrlichia spp. in the south and central regions of the united states where vector-borne disease prevalence has been previously difficult to ascertain, particularly beyond the metropolitan areas.	2012	22316160
considerations for assessing maximum critical temperatures in small ectothermic animals: insights from leaf-cutting ants.	the thermal limits of individual animals were originally proposed as a link between animal physiology and thermal ecology. although this link is valid in theory, the evaluation of physiological tolerances involves some problems that are the focus of this study. one rationale was that heating rates shall influence upper critical limits, so that ecological thermal limits need to consider experimental heating rates. in addition, if thermal limits are not surpassed in experiments, subsequent tests o ...	2012	22384147
cyp52x1, representing new cytochrome p450 subfamily, displays fatty acid hydroxylase activity and contributes to virulence and growth on insect cuticular substrates in entomopathogenic fungus beauveria bassiana.	infection of insects by the entomopathogenic fungus beauveria bassiana proceeds via attachment and penetration of the host cuticle. the outermost epicuticular layer or waxy layer of the insect represents a structure rich in lipids including abundant amounts of hydrocarbons and fatty acids. a member of a novel cytochrome p450 subfamily, cyp52x1, implicated in fatty acid assimilation by b. bassiana was characterized. b. bassiana targeted gene knockouts lacking bbcyp52x1 displayed reduced virulence ...	2012	22393051
anaphylactic reactions to oligosaccharides in red meat: a syndrome in evolution.	while most allergic responses to food are directed against protein epitopes and occur within 30 minutes of ingesting the allergen, recent studies suggest that delayed reactions may occur, sometimes mediated by ige antibodies directed against carbohydrate moieties. the objective of this review is to summarize the clinical features and management of delayed hypersensitivity reactions to mammalian meat mediated by ige antibodies to galactose-alpha 1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), an oligosaccharide.	2012	22397506
phylogeography and demographic history of amblyomma variegatum (fabricius) (acari: ixodidae), the tropical bont tick.	the genetic diversity of amblyomma variegatum (fabricius) from four caribbean islands and five african countries was compared by analyzing the sequences of three gene fragments, two mitochondrial (12srdna and d-loop-dl), and one nuclear (intergenic transcribed spacer 2 [its2]). genetic variability of the its2 dna fragment consisted of only uninformative single nucleotide mutations, and therefore this gene was excluded from further analyses. mitochondrial gene divergences among african population ...	2012	22448720
evaluation of the long-term efficacy and safety of an imidacloprid 10%/flumethrin 4.5% polymer matrix collar (seresto®) in dogs and cats naturally infested with fleas and/or ticks in multicentre clinical field studies in europe.	the objective of these two gcp multicentre european clinical field studies was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of a new imidacloprid/flumethrin collar (seresto®, bayer animalhealth, investigational veterinary product(ivp)) in dogs and cats naturally infested with fleas and/or ticks in comparison to a dimpylat collar ("ungezieferband fuer hunde/fuer katzen", beaphar, control product (cp)).	2012	22463745
composition and seasonal variation of rhipicephalus turanicus and rhipicephalus sanguineus bacterial communities.	a 16s rrna gene approach, including 454 pyrosequencing and quantitative pcr (qpcr), was used to describe the bacterial community in rhipicephalus turanicus and to evaluate the dynamics of key bacterial tenants of adult ticks during the active questing season. the bacterial community structure of rh. turanicus was characterized by high dominance of coxiella and rickettsia and extremely low taxonomic diversity. parallel diagnostic pcr further revealed a novel coxiella species which was present and ...	2012	22467507
expression and regulation of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (mif) in feeding american dog ticks, dermacentor variabilis.	macrophage migration inhibitory factor (mif) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine produced by many mammalian tissues. it is also found in ticks and may function to aid the tick in regulating host responses to tick feeding. our hypothesis is that mif functions in tick blood meal acquisition and pathogen transmission. this study was performed to understand the expression and regulation of mif in the american dog tick, dermacentor variabilis during early stages of blood feeding. we used quantitative reve ...	2012	22476444
determination of wolbachia diversity in butterflies from western ghats, india, by a multigene approach.	members of the genus wolbachia are intracellular bacteria that are widespread in arthropods and establish diverse symbiotic associations with their hosts, ranging from mutualism to parasitism. here we present the first detailed analyses of wolbachia in butterflies from india with screening of 56 species. twenty-nine species (52%) representing five families were positive for wolbachia. this is the first report of wolbachia infection in 27 of the 29 species; the other two were reported previously. ...	2012	22504801
bartonella spp. bacteremia and rheumatic symptoms in patients from lyme disease-endemic region.	bartonella spp. infection has been reported in association with an expanding spectrum of symptoms and lesions. among 296 patients examined by a rheumatologist, prevalence of antibodies against bartonella henselae, b. koehlerae, or b. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii (185 [62%]) and bartonella spp. bacteremia (122 [41.1%]) was high. conditions diagnosed before referral included lyme disease (46.6%), arthralgia/arthritis (20.6%), chronic fatigue (19.6%), and fibromyalgia (6.1%). b. henselae bacteremia w ...	0	22516098
biology of francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica live vaccine strain in the tick vector dermacentor variabilis.	the γ-proteobacterium francisella tularensis is the etiologic agent of seasonal tick-transmitted tularemia epizootics in rodents and rabbits and of incidental infections in humans. the biology of f. tularensis in its tick vectors has not been fully described, particularly with respect to its quanta and duration of colonization, tissue dissemination, and transovarial transmission. a systematic study of the colonization of dermacentor variabilis by the f. tularensis subsp. holarctica live vaccine ...	2012	22530023
efficacy of an imidacloprid/flumethrin collar against fleas and ticks on cats.	the objectives of the studies listed here were to ascertain the therapeutic and sustained efficacy of 10% imidacloprid (w/w) and 4.5% flumethrin (w/w) incorporated in a slow-release matrix collar, against laboratory-infestations of fleas and ticks on cats. efficacy was evaluated against the flea ctenocephalides felis felis, and the ticks ixodes ricinus, amblyomma americanum and rhipicephalus turanicus. the number of studies was so large that only a general overview can be presented in this abstr ...	2012	22541037
anaplasma phagocytophilum in small mammals and ticks in northeast florida.	human anaplasmosis is an emerging tick-borne disease in the united states, but few studies of the causative agent, anaplasma phagocytophilum, have been conducted in southeastern states. the aim of this study was to determine if a. phagocytophilum is present in small mammals and ticks in northeast florida. polymerase chain reaction assays designed to amplify portions of the major surface protein 2 gene (p44), 16s rdna, and groesl operons were used to test rodent blood and tick dna samples for the ...	2012	22548563
tick salivary secretion as a source of antihemostatics.	ticks are mostly obligatory blood feeding ectoparasites that have an impact on human and animal health. in addition to direct damage due to feeding, some tick species serve as the vectors for the causative agents of several diseases, such as the spirochetes of the genus borrelia causing lyme disease, the virus of tick-borne encephalitis, various rickettsial pathogens or even protozoan parasites like babesia spp. hard ticks are unique among bloodfeeders because of their prolonged feeding period t ...	2012	22564820
insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7, a member of insulin-like growth factor signal pathway, involved in immune response of small abalone haliotis diversicolor.	insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (igfbp7), the only member of the igfbp superfamily that binds strongly to insulin, may have different functions from other igfbps. unlike other igfbps, there is no knowledge available on aquatic invertebrate igfbp7. in this study, a molluscan igfbp7 gene, saigfbp7, was cloned for the first time from the small abalone haliotis diversicolor. its full-length cdna sequence is 1812 bp, with a 720 bp open reading frame encoding a protein of 239 aa. the mole ...	2012	22584203
transmission electron microscopy reveals distinct macrophage- and tick cell-specific morphological stages of ehrlichia chaffeensis.	ehrlichia chaffeensis is an emerging tick-borne rickettsial pathogen responsible for human monocytic ehrlichiosis. despite the induction of an active host immune response, the pathogen has evolved to persist in its vertebrate and tick hosts. understanding how the organism progresses in tick and vertebrate host cells is critical in identifying effective strategies to block the pathogen transmission. our recent molecular and proteomic studies revealed differences in numerous expressed proteins of ...	2012	22615806
the role of cystatins in tick physiology and blood feeding.	ticks, as obligate hematophagous ectoparasites, impact greatly on animal and human health because they transmit various pathogens worldwide. over the last decade, several cystatins from different hard and soft ticks were identified and biochemically analyzed for their role in the physiology and blood feeding lifestyle of ticks. all these cystatins are potent inhibitors of papain-like cysteine proteases, but not of legumain. tick cystatins were either detected in the salivary glands and/or the mi ...	2012	22647711
prostaglandins and their receptors in insect biology.	we treat the biological significance of prostaglandins (pgs) and their known receptors in insect biology. pgs and related eicosanoids are oxygenated derivatives of arachidonic acid (aa) and two other c20 polyunsaturated fatty acids. pgs are mostly appreciated in the context of biomedicine, but a growing body of literature indicates the biological significance of these compounds extends throughout the animal kingdom, and possibly beyond. the actions of most pgs are mediated by specific receptors. ...	2011	22654840
plane of nutrition by tick-burden interaction in cattle: effect on growth and metabolism.	ticks are external parasites, which pose a significant economic burden to domestic animal agriculture. the effects of ticks on grazing animals may be exacerbated during periods of low nutrition, such as those encountered during drought. it is not completely understood how plane of nutrition and tick burden interact to affect metabolism in cattle. the objective of the current research was to examine the plane of nutrition by tick-burden interaction in cattle and determine the effects of this inte ...	2012	22665634
presence, genetic variability, and potential significance of "candidatus midichloria mitochondrii" in the lone star tick amblyomma americanum.	we used next generation sequencing to detect the bacterium "candidatus midichloria mitochondrii" for the first time in lone star ticks (amblyomma americanum) from the eastern united states. 177 individuals and 11 tick pools from seven sites in four states were tested by pyrosequencing with barcoded 16s rrna gene eubacterial primers targeting variable regions 5-3. average infection prevalence was 0.15 across all surveyed populations (range 0-0.29) and only the site with the smallest sample size ( ...	2012	22678102
laboratory-infected ehrlichia chaffeensis female adult amblyomma americanum salivary glands reveal differential gene expression.	ticks are efficient ectoparasites that are able to steal blood, a rich source of nutrients, from their vertebrate hosts. the nymphal developmental stage of ticks plays an important role for pathogen transmission to human and other animal hosts. in this article, we describe a bloodmeal-based sex differentiation tool to generate adult female ticks infected with ehrlichia chaffeensis to investigate vector-pathogen interactions (functional genomics and gene expression studies). we demonstrate that t ...	2012	22679861
reverse line blot probe design and polymerase chain reaction optimization for bloodmeal analysis of ticks from the eastern united states.	determining the host preference of vector ticks is vital to elucidating the eco-epidemiology of the diseases they spread. detachment of ticks from captured hosts can provide evidence of feeding on those host species, but only for those species that are feasible to capture. recently developed, highly sensitive molecular assays show great promise in allowing host selection to be determined from minute traces of host dna that persist in recently molted ticks. using methods developed in europe as a ...	2012	22679879
development of a mitochondrial 12s rdna analysis for distinguishing sciuridae species with potential to transmit ehrlichia and borrelia species to feeding amblyomma americanum (acari: ixodidae).	unique oligonucleotide probes were synthesized to distinguish among closely related vertebrate mitochondrial rdna sequences present in residual bloodmeals in emergent amblyomma americanum (l.) (acari: ixodidae) nymph life-stage ticks. use of these probes enabled the identification of the eastern gray squirrel as an important bloodmeal source in nymphs harboring ehrlichia and borrelia species. these results were confirmed by identifying these same bacterial genera in eastern gray squirrel tissues ...	2012	22679888
responses of amblyomma americanum and dermacentor variabilis to odorants that attract haematophagous insects.	carbon dioxide (co(2) ), 1-octen-3-ol, acetone, ammonium hydroxide, l-lactic-acid, dimethyl trisulphide and isobutyric acid were tested as attractants for two tick species, amblyomma americanum and dermacentor variabilis (acari: ixodidae), in dose-response bioassays using y-tube olfactometers. only co(2) , acetone, 1-octen-3-ol and ammonium hydroxide elicited significant preferences from adult a. americanum, and only co(2) was attractive to adult d. variabilis. acetone, 1-octen-3-ol and ammonium ...	2013	22681499
natural product studies of u.s. endangered plants: volatile components of lindera melissifolia (lauraceae) repel mosquitoes and ticks.	the number of endangered plant species in the u.s. is significant, yet studies aimed towards utilizing these plants are limited. ticks and mosquitoes are vectors of significant pathogenic diseases of humans. repellents are critical means of personal protection against biting arthropods and disease transmission. the essential oil and solvent extracts from lindera melissifolia (walt.) blume (lauraceae) (pondberry) drupes were gathered and analyzed by gc and gc-ms. the essential oil obtained from t ...	2012	22704653
co2 flagging - an improved method for the collection of questing ticks.	most epidemiological studies on tick-borne pathogens involve collection of ticks from the environment. an efficient collection method is essential for large sample pools. our main aim was to evaluate the efficacy of a new method, where traditional flagging was enhanced by the use of co2 dispersed into the white flannel. the co2 was spread through a rubber hose network inserted into the flag blanket. the research was conducted in spring, in march-april 2011 in two locations from cluj county, roma ...	2012	22720872
spider-venom peptides as bioinsecticides.	over 10,000 arthropod species are currently considered to be pest organisms. they are estimated to contribute to the destruction of ~14% of the world's annual crop production and transmit many pathogens. presently, arthropod pests of agricultural and health significance are controlled predominantly through the use of chemical insecticides. unfortunately, the widespread use of these agrochemicals has resulted in genetic selection pressure that has led to the development of insecticide-resistant a ...	2012	22741062
detection and identification of putative bacterial endosymbionts and endogenous viruses in tick cell lines.	as well as being vectors of many viral, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens of medical and veterinary importance, ticks harbour a variety of microorganisms which are not known to be pathogenic for vertebrate hosts. continuous cell lines established from ixodid and argasid ticks could be infected with such endosymbiotic bacteria and endogenous viruses, but to date very few cell lines have been examined for their presence. dna and rna extracted from over 50 tick cell lines deposited in the roslin w ...	2012	22743047
fusion to snowdrop lectin magnifies the oral activity of insecticidal ω-hexatoxin-hv1a peptide by enabling its delivery to the central nervous system.	the spider-venom peptide ω-hexatoxin-hv1a (hv1a) targets insect voltage-gated calcium channels, acting directly at sites within the central nervous system. it is potently insecticidal when injected into a wide variety of insect pests, but it has limited oral toxicity. we examined the ability of snowdrop lectin (gna), which is capable of traversing the insect gut epithelium, to act as a "carrier" in order to enhance the oral activity of hv1a.	2012	22761779
disintegrins from hematophagous sources.	bloodsucking arthropods are a rich source of salivary molecules (sialogenins) which inhibit platelet aggregation, neutrophil function and angiogenesis. here we review the literature on salivary disintegrins and their targets. disintegrins were first discovered in snake venoms, and were instrumental in our understanding of integrin function and also for the development of anti-thrombotic drugs. in hematophagous animals, most disintegrins described so far have been discovered in the salivary gland ...	2012	22778902
survey of borreliae in ticks, canines, and white-tailed deer from arkansas, u.s.a.	in the eastern and upper midwestern regions of north america, ixodes scapularis (l.) is the most abundant tick species encountered by humans and the primary vector of b. burgdorferi, whereas in the southeastern region amblyomma americanum (say) is the most abundant tick species encountered by humans but cannot transmit b. burgdorferi. surveys of borreliae in ticks have been conducted in the southeastern united states and often these surveys identify b. lonestari as the primary borrelia species, ...	2012	22781030
laboratory study on biological control of ticks (acari: ixodidae) by entomopathogenic indigenous fungi (beauveria bassiana).	chemical control method using different acaricides as spray, dipping solution or pour-on is routinely used for controlling ticks. biological control agents are favorable due to their safety for animals and environment. entomopathogenic fungi such as beauveria bassiana are well known for controlling ticks. in this study, two iranian indigenous strains of b. bassiana (b. bassiana 5197 and b. bassiana evin) were selected and grown on specific media. the pathogenic effects of these strains were eval ...	2009	22808380
a peculiar cause of anaphylaxis: no more steak? the journey to discovery of a newly recognized allergy to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose found in mammalian meat.	in recent years, a newly recognized allergic disease has been uncovered, and seemingly idiopathic causes of anaphylaxis now have an explanation. individuals bitten by the lone star tick may develop ige antibodies to the carbohydrate galactose-α-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal). upon exposure of sensitized subjects to mammalian meat containing alpha-gal on glycoproteins or glycolipids, delayed anaphylaxis may ensue, often three to six hours after ingestion.1 many of these individuals have negative aller ...	2012	22815061
analysis of babesia bovis infection-induced gene expression changes in larvae from the cattle tick, rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus.	cattle babesiosis is a tick-borne disease of cattle that has severe economic impact on cattle producers throughout the world's tropical and subtropical countries. the most severe form of the disease is caused by the apicomplexan, babesia bovis, and transmitted to cattle through the bite of infected cattle ticks of the genus rhipicephalus, with the most prevalent species being rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus. we studied the reaction of the r. microplus larval transcriptome in response to infe ...	2012	22871314
identification of endosymbionts in ticks by broad-range polymerase chain reaction and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.	many organisms, such as insects, filarial nematodes, and ticks, contain heritable bacterial endosymbionts that are often closely related to transmissible tickborne pathogens. these intracellular bacteria are sometimes unique to the host species, presumably due to isolation and genetic drift. we used a polymerase chain reaction/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry assay designed to detect a wide range of vectorborne microorganisms to characterize endosymbiont genetic signatures from amblyomm ...	2012	22897044
ixodes scapularis (acari: ixodidae) distribution surveys in the chicago metropolitan region.	considering recent studies confirming an increased risk of contracting lyme disease near metropolitan chicago, we surveyed a more comprehensive area to assess whether the geographical distribution and establishment of ixodes scapularis (say) populations across northeast illinois are widespread or limited in occurrence. from may through october 2008 and from april through october 2009, 602 i. scapularis ticks of all three life stages (larva, nymph, adult) were collected from sites in cook, dupage ...	2012	22897059
borrelia burgdorferi infections in the united states.	it is becoming increasingly evident that the clinical presentation of infection with borrelia burgdorferi varies greatly between different parts of the world. a growing number of european and asian isolates of lyme borreliae, differing from the american strain of borrelia burgdorferi, have been identified in several different disorders. in light of the increasing number of reports describing an association between various cutaneous disorders and infection with borrelia burgdorferi and the contro ...	2012	22916311
migratory birds, ticks, and bartonella.	bartonella spp. infections are considered to be vector-borne zoonoses; ticks are suspected vectors of bartonellae. migratory birds can disperse ticks infected with zoonotic pathogens such as rickettsia and tick-borne encephalitis virus and possibly also bartonella. thus, in the present study 386 tick specimens collected in spring 2009 from migratory birds on the mediterranean islands capri and antikythera were screened for bartonella spp. rna. one or more ticks were found on 2.7% of the birds. m ...	2011	22957116
a survey on endoparasites and ectoparasites of stray cats from mashhad (iran) and association with risk factors.	as there appeared to be no data available on parasite infection of stray cats in the region and considering the potential threat of stray cats for animal and public health, the present study was carried out using biological samples and necropsy finding collected from cats captured in mashhad city in the northeast of iran. from a total 52 stray cats examined, 18 (34.6%) were male and 34 (65.4%) were female. ten species of endoparasites including helminthes and protozoa and two species of ectopara ...	2011	23024505
bioinformatics and expression analyses of the ixodes scapularis tick cystatin family.	the cystatins are inhibitors of papain- and legumain-like cysteine proteinases, classified in merops subfamilies i25a-i25c. this study shows that 84 % (42/50) of tick cystatins are putatively extracellular in subfamily i25b and the rest are putatively intracellular in subfamily i25a. on the neighbor joining phylogeny guide tree, subfamily i25a members cluster together, while subfamily i25b cystatins segregate among prostriata or metastriata ticks. two ixodes scapularis cystatins, aay66864 and is ...	2012	23053911
delayed anaphylaxis to red meat in patients with ige specific for galactose alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal).	anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can be rapidly progressing and fatal. in instances where the triggering allergen is not known, establishing the etiology of anaphylaxis is pivotal to long-term risk management. our recent work has identified a novel ige antibody (ab) response to a mammalian oligosaccharide epitope, galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), that has been associated with two distinct forms of anaphylaxis: (1) immediate onset anaphylaxis during first exposure to intra ...	0	23054628
tick-box for 3'-end formation of mitochondrial transcripts in ixodida, basal chelicerates and drosophila.	according to the trna punctuation model, the mitochondrial genome (mtdna) of mammals and arthropods is transcribed as large polycistronic precursors that are maturated by endonucleolytic cleavage at trna borders and rna polyadenylation. starting from the newly sequenced mtdna of ixodes ricinus and using a combination of mitogenomics and transcriptional analyses, we found that in all currently-sequenced tick lineages (prostriata, metastriata and argasidae) the 3'-end of the polyadenylated nad1 an ...	2012	23077630
tick cell culture isolation and growth of rickettsia raoultii from dutch dermacentor reticulatus ticks.	tick cell lines play an important role in research on ticks and tick-borne pathogenic and symbiotic microorganisms. in an attempt to derive continuous dermacentor reticulatus cell lines, embryo-derived primary cell cultures were set up from eggs laid by field ticks originally collected as unfed adults in the netherlands and maintained for up to 16 months. after several months, it became evident that cells in the primary cultures were infected with a rickettsia-like intracellular organism. supern ...	2012	23140894
relationship between habitat type, fire frequency, and amblyomma americanum populations in east-central alabama.	ticks were collected from 20 sites in the calhoun, cherokee, and cleburne counties in east-central alabama areas to determine the relationship between plant physiognomy, environmental variables, and tick populations. sites investigated included various burning regimes, wildland-urban-interface (wui), a college campus, and an unmanaged area. amblyomma americanum (l.) (acari: ixodidae) dominated the tick population while ixodes scapularis say was not encountered. there were complex differences in ...	2012	23181862
the rare ospc allele l of borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, commonly found among samples collected in a coastal plain area of the southeastern united states, is associated with ixodes affinis ticks and local rodent hosts peromyscus gossypinus and sigmodon hispidus.	the rare ospc allele l was detected in 30% of borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto strains cultured from a tick species, ixodes affinis, and two rodent host species, peromyscus gossypinus and sigmodon hispidus, collected in a coastal plain area of georgia and south carolina, in the southeastern united states.	2013	23220965
new species of ehrlichia isolated from rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus shows an ortholog of the e. canis major immunogenic glycoprotein gp36 with a new sequence of tandem repeats.	ehrlichia species are the etiological agents of emerging and life-threatening tick-borne human zoonoses that inflict serious and fatal infections in companion animals and livestock. the aim of this paper was to phylogeneticaly characterise a new species of ehrlichia isolated from rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus from minas gerais, brazil.	2012	23231731
acaricidal activity of ethanolic extract from aerial parts of tagetes patula l. (asteraceae) against larvae and engorged adult females of rhipicephalus sanguineus (latreille, 1806).	the tick rhipicephalus sanguineus is the species with the largest worldwide distribution and is proven to be involved in the transmission of pathogens such as babesia canis, ehrlichia canis, coxiella burnetii, rickettsia ricketsii, rickettsia conorii, among others. studies have demonstrated acquisition of resistance to some of the active principles used in commercial formulations of acaricides. tagetes patula (asteraceae) is a plant with highlighted economic and commercial importance due to the ...	2012	23244493
detection of borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto ospc alleles associated with human lyme borreliosis worldwide in non-human-biting tick ixodes affinis and rodent hosts in southeastern united states.	comparative analysis of ospc genes from 127 borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto strains collected in european and north american regions where lyme disease is endemic and where it is not endemic revealed a close relatedness of geographically distinct populations. ospc alleles a, b, and l were detected on both continents in vectors and hosts, including humans. six ospc alleles, a, b, l, q, r, and v, were prevalent in europe; 4 of them were detected in samples of human origin. ten ospc alleles, a, ...	2013	23263953
anaplasma odocoilei sp. nov. (family anaplasmataceae) from white-tailed deer (odocoileus virginianus).	recently, an undescribed anaplasma sp. (also called ehrlichia-like sp. or wtd agent) was isolated in ise6 tick cells from captive white-tailed deer. the goal of the current study was to characterize this organism using a combination of experimental infection, morphologic, serologic, and molecular studies. each of 6 experimentally inoculated white-tailed deer fawns (odocoileus virginianus) became chronically infected (100+ days) with the anaplasma sp. by inoculation of either infected whole blood ...	2012	23276749
a novel approach, based on blsoms (batch learning self-organizing maps), to the microbiome analysis of ticks.	ticks transmit a variety of viral, bacterial and protozoal pathogens, which are often zoonotic. the aim of this study was to identify diverse tick microbiomes, which may contain as-yet unidentified pathogens, using a metagenomic approach. dna prepared from bacteria/archaea-enriched fractions obtained from seven tick species, namely amblyomma testudinarium, amblyomma variegatum, haemaphysalis formosensis, haemaphysalis longicornis, ixodes ovatus, ixodes persulcatus and ixodes ricinus, was subject ...	2013	23303373
ehrlichia chaffeensis replication sites in adult drosophila melanogaster.	ehrlichia chaffeensis is a gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacterium which causes the tick-borne disease human monocytic ehrlichiosis. in vertebrates, e. chaffeensis replicates in monocytes and macrophages. however, no clear cell or tissue tropism has been defined in arthropods. our group identified two host genes that control e. chaffeensis replication and infection in vivo in drosophila, uridine cytidine kinase and separation anxiety. using the uas-gal4 rnai system, we generated f1 flies ...	2013	23306065
differentially expressed genes in hirudo medicinalis ganglia after acetyl-l-carnitine treatment.	acetyl-l-carnitine (alc) is a naturally occurring substance that, when administered at supra-physiological concentration, is neuroprotective. it is involved in membrane stabilization and in enhancement of mitochondrial functions. it is a molecule of considerable interest for its clinical application in various neural disorders, including alzheimer's disease and painful neuropathies. alc is known to improve the cognitive capability of aged animals chronically treated with the drug and, recently, ...	2013	23308261
meningoencephalitis from borrelia miyamotoi in an immunocompromised patient.	ixodes ticks serve as vectors for borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of lyme disease. globally, these ticks often concurrently harbor b. miyamotoi, a spirochete that is classified within the relapsing-fever group of spirochetes. although humans presumably are exposed to b. miyamotoi, there are limited data suggesting disease attributable to it. we report a case of progressive mental deterioration in an older, immunocompromised patient, and even though koch's postulates were not met, we posit b. miy ...	2013	23323900
coinfection of dermacentor silvarum olenev (acari: ixodidae) by coxiella-like, arsenophonus-like, and rickettsia-like symbionts.	we report that multiple symbionts coexist in dermacentor silvarum. based on 16s rrna gene sequence analyses, we prove that coxiella-like and arsenophonus-like symbionts, with 95.6% and 96.7% sequence similarity to symbionts in the closest taxon, respectively, are novel. moreover, we also provide evidence that the coxiella-like symbiont appears to be the primary symbiont.	2013	23354701
efficacy of amitraz-impregnated collars on white-tailed deer (artiodactyla: cervidae) in reducing free-living populations of lone star ticks (acari: ixodidae).	over a 7 yr period, we monitored the effect of a commercially available, amitraz impregnated anti-tick collar in controlling free-living populations of lone star ticks, amblyomma americanum (l.) when manually fitted around necks of white-tailed deer, odocoileus virginianus (zimmermann). study animals in treatment and control groups were confined in 38.8 ha game-fenced and densely vegetated treatment plots in south texas. tick densities during years 1 and 7 served as untreated pre- and posttreatm ...	2012	23356088
receptors for the neuropeptides, myoinhibitory peptide and sifamide, in control of the salivary glands of the blacklegged tick ixodes scapularis.	tick salivary glands are important organs that enable the hematophagous feeding of the tick. we previously described the innervation of the salivary gland acini types ii and iii by a pair of protocerebral salivary gland neurons that produce both myoinhibitory peptide (mip) and sifamide (šimo et al., 2009b). in this study we identified authentic receptors expressed in the salivary glands for these neuropeptides. homology-based searches for these receptors in the ixodes scapularis genome sequence ...	2013	23357681
the effects of ingested mammalian blood factors on vector arthropod immunity and physiology.	the blood feeding behavior of disease-transmitting arthropods creates a unique intersection between vertebrate and invertebrate physiology. here, we review host blood-derived factors that persist through blood digestion to affect the lifespan, reproduction, and immune responses of some of the most common arthropod vectors of human disease.	2013	23370408
unlocking holocentric chromosomes: new perspectives from comparative and functional genomics?	the presence of chromosomes with diffuse centromeres (holocentric chromosomes) has been reported in several taxa since more than fifty years, but a full understanding of their origin is still lacking. comparative and functional genomics are nowadays furnishing new data to better understand holocentric chromosome evolution thus opening new perspectives to analyse karyotype rearrangements in species with holocentric chromosomes in particular evidencing unusual common features, such as the uniform ...	0	23372420
detection of human bacterial pathogens in ticks collected from louisiana black bears (ursus americanus luteolus).	there are 4 major human-biting tick species in the northeastern united states, which include: amblyomma americanum, amblyomma maculatum, dermacentor variabilis, and ixodes scapularis. the black bear is a large mammal that has been shown to be parasitized by all the aforementioned ticks. we investigated the bacterial infections in ticks collected from louisiana black bears (ursus americanus subspecies luteolus). eighty-six ticks were collected from 17 black bears in louisiana from june 2010 to ma ...	2013	23415850
a white-tailed deer/lone star tick model for studying transmission of ehrlichia chaffeensis.	animal models for ehrlichia chaffeensis have been unsuccessful in recapitulating the natural disease cycle. we have developed an animal model for tick feeding and transmission using white-tailed deer (odocoileus virgianus), the intracellular bacterium (ehrlichia chaffeensis), and the lone star tick vector (amblyomma americanum). here, we report the acquisition and transmission of e. chaffeensis infections by refeeding male ticks in this experimental model. this finding is important because techn ...	2013	23421885
effects of infection by arsenophonus and rickettsia bacteria on the locomotive ability of the ticks amblyomma americanum, dermacentor variabilis, and ixodes scapularis.	the goal of this study was to determine the effect of vertically transmitted arsenophonus and rickettsia bacteria on locomotive ability of larvae of three eastern north american tick species: amblyomma americanum, dermacentor variabilis, and ixodes scapularis. we conducted two different experiments on flat or inclined surfaces to measure tick motility. in each experiment, a moderately heated surface was used and placed at a selected incline. the individual's path across the surface was traced fo ...	2013	23427665
deorphanization and target validation of cross-tick species conserved novel amblyomma americanum tick saliva protein.	we previously identified a cross-tick species conserved tick feeding stimuli responsive amblyomma americanum (aam) av422 gene. this study demonstrates that aamav422 belongs to a novel group of arthropod proteins that is characterized by 14 cysteine amino acid residues: c(23)-x7/9-c(33)-x23/24-c(58)-x8-c(67)-x7-c(75)-x23-c(99)-x15-c(115)-x10-c(126)-x24/25/33-c(150)c(151)-x7-c(159)-x8-c(168)-x23/24-c(192)-x9/10-c(202) predicted to form seven disulfide bonds. we show that aamav422 protein is a ubiq ...	2013	23428900
rna interference-mediated depletion of n-ethylmaleimide sensitive fusion protein and synaptosomal associated protein of 25 kda results in the inhibition of blood feeding of the gulf coast tick, amblyomma maculatum.	the signalling pathways in tick salivary glands that control 'sialo-secretome' secretion at the tick-host interface remain elusive; however, this complex process is essential for successful feeding and manipulation of the host haemostatic response. exocytosis of the sialo-secretome in the salivary glands requires a core of soluble n-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion (nsf) attachment proteins (snaps) and receptor proteins (snares). snares have been identified as the key components in regulating the ...	2013	23437815
why so many unknown genes? partitioning orphans from a representative transcriptome of the lone star tick amblyomma americanum.	genomic resources within the phylum arthropoda are largely limited to the true insects but are beginning to include unexplored subphyla, such as the crustacea and chelicerata. investigations of these understudied taxa uncover high frequencies of orphan genes, which lack detectable sequence homology to genes in pre-existing databases. the ticks (acari: chelicerata) are one such understudied taxon for which genomic resources are urgently needed. ticks are obligate blood-feeders that vector major d ...	2013	23445305
targeted and random mutagenesis of ehrlichia chaffeensis for the identification of genes required for in vivo infection.	ehrlichia chaffeensis is a tick transmitted pathogen responsible for the disease human monocytic ehrlichiosis. research to elucidate gene function in rickettsial pathogens is limited by the lack of genetic manipulation methods. mutational analysis was performed, targeting to specific and random insertion sites within the bacterium's genome. targeted mutagenesis at six genomic locations by homologous recombination and mobile group ii intron-based methods led to the consistent identification of mu ...	2013	23459099
molecular characterization and functional significance of the vti family of snare proteins in tick salivary glands.	exocytosis involves membrane fusion between secretory vesicles and the plasma membrane. the soluble n-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment proteins (snaps) and their receptor proteins (snares) interact to fuse vesicles with the membrane and trigger the release of their sialosecretome out of the tick salivary gland cells. in this study, we examined the functional significance of the vti family of snare proteins of blood-feeding amblyomma maculatum and amblyomma americanum. vti1a and vti1b h ...	2013	23499931
amblyomma americanum tick saliva serine protease inhibitor 6 is a cross-class inhibitor of serine proteases and papain-like cysteine proteases that delays plasma clotting and inhibits platelet aggregation.	we previously demonstrated that amblyomma americanum tick serine protease inhibitor 6 (aams6) was secreted into the host during tick feeding and that both its mrna and protein were ubiquitously and highly expressed during the first 3 days of tick feeding. this study demonstrates that aams6 is a cross-class inhibitor of both serine- and papain-like cysteine proteases that has apparent antihaemostatic functions. consistent with the typical inhibitory serpin characteristics, enzyme kinetics analyse ...	2013	23521000
bioactivity-guided investigation of geranium essential oils as natural tick repellents.	the evaluation of 10 essential oils of geranium, pelargonium graveolens (geraniaceae), were all shown to have repellent activity against nymphs of the medically important lone star tick, amblyomma americanum (l.). the biological tests were carried out using a vertical filter paper bioassay, where ticks must cross an area of the paper treated with repellent to approach host stimuli. one of the essential oil samples that repelled >90% of the ticks at 0.103 mg/cm(2) was selected for further fractio ...	2013	23528036
knowledge and prevention of tick-borne diseases vary across an urban-to-rural human land-use gradient.	we sought to determine the behavioral risk of exposure to tick-borne diseases across a human land-use gradient in a region endemic for diseases transmitted by the lone star tick. we measured the knowledge, attitudes, and preventive behaviors of visitors to 14 suburban, exurban, and rural recreational parks. a structured interview was conducted to determine respondents' (n=238) knowledge of tick-borne disease risk, perceived susceptibility to tick-borne disease, and tick bite prevention behaviors ...	2013	23538110
what is the risk for exposure to vector-borne pathogens in united states national parks?	united states national parks attract > 275 million visitors annually and collectively present risk of exposure for staff and visitors to a wide range of arthropod vector species (most notably fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks) and their associated bacterial, protozoan, or viral pathogens. we assessed the current state of knowledge for risk of exposure to vector-borne pathogens in national parks through a review of relevant literature, including internal national park service documents and organismal ...	2013	23540107
lone star tick (acari: ixodidae) occurrence in nebraska: historical and current perspectives.	in 2010 and 2011, field collections were undertaken to determine the geographic range of the lone star tick, amblyomma americanum (l.), in nebraska in addition, tick identifications from submissions by the general public dating to 1911 were examined. consistent lone star tick identifications from extreme southeast nebraska began in 1987. specimens have been identified from 27 counties, making lone star ticks the second most frequently and second most widely reported tick in the state after derma ...	2013	23540110
the effects of solenopsis invicta (hymenoptera: formicidae) and burned habitat on the survival of amblyomma americanum (acari: ixodidae) and amblyomma maculatum (acari: ixodidae).	identifying ways in which humans can reduce tick populations is important for preventing the spread and emergence of diseases. during a recent study on effects of long-term prescribed burning on ticks, differences in species composition were observed with lone star ticks, amblyomma americanum (l.), preferring unburned habitats and gulf coast ticks, amblyomma maculatum (koch), preferring burned habitats. interestingly, the red imported fire ant, solenopsis invicta buren, is found predominantly in ...	2013	23540113
galactose-α-1,3-galactose and delayed anaphylaxis, angioedema, and urticaria in children.	despite a thorough history and comprehensive testing, many children who present with recurrent symptoms consistent with allergic reactions elude diagnosis. recent research has identified a novel cause for "idiopathic" allergic reactions; immunoglobulin e (ige) antibody specific for the carbohydrate galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal) has been associated with delayed urticaria and anaphylaxis that occurs 3 to 6 hours after eating beef, pork, or lamb. we sought to determine whether ige antibody to α ...	2013	23569097