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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, ...201323263953
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 ...201323415850
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.201323220965
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.201323370408
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 ...201323357681
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 ...201323323900
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 ...201323303373
drug allergens and food--the cetuximab and galactose-α-1,3-galactose story.a novel form of food allergy has been described that initially became apparent from ige reactivity with the drug cetuximab. ongoing work regarding the etiology, distribution, clinical management, and cellular mechanisms of the ige response to the oligosaccharide galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal) is reviewed.201324468247
red meat allergy in sweden: association with tick sensitization and b-negative blood groups. 201324094548
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 ...201323445305
first detection of heartland virus (bunyaviridae: phlebovirus) from field collected arthropods.heartland virus (hrtv), the first pathogenic phlebovirus (family: bunyaviridae) discovered in the united states, was recently described from two missouri farmers. in 2012, we collected 56,428 ticks representing three species at 12 sites including both patients' farms. amblyomma americanum and dermacentor variabilis accounted for nearly all ticks collected. ten pools composed of deplete nymphs of a. americanum collected at a patient farm and a nearby conservation area were reverse transcription-p ...201323878186
increasing frequency of feline cytauxzoonosis cases diagnosed in western kentucky from 2001 to 2011.feline cytauxzoonosis is a rapidly progressing and usually fatal disease in domestic cats caused by the tick-borne pathogen, cytauxzoon felis. the primary reservoir host for this protozoan parasite is the bobcat (lynx rufus). in this retrospective study, we have examined the positive cases of feline cytauxzoonosis identified at murray state university's breathitt veterinary center, a regional diagnostic facility located in hopkinsville, kentucky, between january 2001 and december 2011. center re ...201324035030
identification and expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in sarcoptes scabiei.macrophage migration inhibitory factor (mif) is a pleiotropic proinflammatory cytokine produced by many mammalian tissues including skin. it is also found in many invertebrate parasites of mammals including ticks and may function to aid the parasite to evade the innate and adaptive immune responses in the host. in this study, the cdna for a mif gene was sequenced from sarcoptes scabiei, the scabies mite, using rt-pcr and race molecular techniques. the resulting nucleotide sequence had a length o ...201323831036
morphologic and molecular characterization of a demodex (acari: demodicidae) species from white-tailed deer (odocoileus virginianus).demodex mites, although usually nonpathogenic, can cause a wide range of dermatological lesions ranging from mild skin irritation and alopecia to severe furunculosis. recently, a case of demodicosis from a white-tailed deer (odocoileus virginianus) revealed a demodex species morphologically distinct from demodex odocoilei. all life cycle stages were considerably larger than d. odocoilei and although similar in size to d. kutzeri and d. acutipes from european cervids, numerous morphometrics disti ...201327335854
emerging antigens involved in allergic responses.new allergic diseases can 'emerge' because of exposure to a novel antigen, because the immune responsiveness of the subject changes, or because of a change in the behavior of the population. novel antigens have entered the environment as new pests in the home (e.g., asian lady beetle or stink bugs), in the diet (e.g., prebiotics or wheat isolates), or because of the spread of a biting arthropod (e.g., ticks). over the last few years, a significant new disease has been identified, which has chang ...201324095162
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 ...201323499931
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 ...201323437815
amblyomma cajennense (fabricius, 1787) (acari: ixodidae), the cayenne tick: phylogeography and evidence for allopatric speciation.amblyomma cajennense f. is one of the best known and studied ticks in the new world because of its very wide distribution, its economical importance as pest of domestic ungulates, and its association with a variety of animal and human pathogens. recent observations, however, have challenged the taxonomic status of this tick and indicated that intraspecific cryptic speciation might be occurring. in the present study, we investigate the evolutionary and demographic history of this tick and examine ...201324320199
chemical composition and insecticidal activity of plant essential oils from benin against anopheles gambiae (giles).insecticide resistance in sub-saharan africa and especially in benin is a major public health issue hindering the control of the malaria vectors. each anopheles species has developed a resistance to one or several classes of the insecticides currently in use in the field. therefore, it is urgent to find alternative compounds to conquer the vector. in this study, the efficacies of essential oils of nine plant species, which are traditionally used to avoid mosquito bites in benin, were investigate ...201324298981
molecular and functional characterization of vacuolar-atpase from the american dog tick dermacentor variabilis.vacuolar (v)-atpase is a proton-translocating enzyme that acidifies cellular compartments for various functions such as receptor-mediated endocytosis, intracellular trafficking and protein degradation. previous studies in dermacentor variabilis chronically infected with rickettsia montanensis have identified v-atpase as one of the tick-derived molecules transcribed in response to rickettsial infection. to examine the role of the tick v-atpase in tick-rickettsia interactions, a full-length 2887-b ...201324164319
the genome sequence of lone star virus, a highly divergent bunyavirus found in the amblyomma americanum tick.viruses in the family bunyaviridae infect a wide range of plant, insect, and animal hosts. tick-borne bunyaviruses in the phlebovirus genus, including severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (sftsv) in china, heartland virus (hrtv) in the united states, and bhanja virus in eurasia and africa have been associated with acute febrile illness in humans. here we sought to characterize the growth characteristics and genome of lone star virus (lsv), an unclassified bunyavirus originally isola ...201323637969
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 ...201323521000
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 ...201323306065
ehrlichia moonlighting effectors and interkingdom interactions with the mononuclear phagocyte.ehrlichia chaffeensis is an obligately intracellular gram negative bacterium with a small genome that thrives in mammalian mononuclear phagocytes by exploiting eukaryotic processes. herein, we discuss the latest findings on moonlighting tandem repeat protein effectors and their secretion mechanisms, and novel molecular interkingdom interactions that provide insight into the intracellular pathobiology of ehrlichiae.201324141087
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 ...201323428900
anaplasma phagocytophilum--a widespread multi-host pathogen with highly adaptive strategies.the bacterium anaplasma phagocytophilum has for decades been known to cause the disease tick-borne fever (tbf) in domestic ruminants in ixodes ricinus-infested areas in northern europe. in recent years, the bacterium has been found associated with ixodes-tick species more or less worldwide on the northern hemisphere. a. phagocytophilum has a broad host range and may cause severe disease in several mammalian species, including humans. however, the clinical symptoms vary from subclinical to fatal ...201323885337
molecular epidemiology of the emerging zoonosis agent anaplasma phagocytophilum (foggie, 1949) in dogs and ixodid ticks in brazil.anaplasma phagocytophilum is an emerging pathogen of humans, dogs and other animals, and it is transmitted by ixodid ticks. the objective of the current study was a) detect a. phagocytophilum in dogs and ixodid ticks using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qpcr); and b) determine important variables associated to host, environment and potential tick vectors that are related to the presence of a. phagocytophilum in dogs domiciled in rio de janeiro, brazil.201324330631
host blood meal-dependent growth ensures transovarial transmission and transstadial passage of rickettsia sp. phylotype g021 in the western black-legged tick (ixodes pacificus).in this study, we explored the growth dynamics of rickettsia sp. phylotype g021 during transovarial transmission and transstadial passage by ixodes pacificus using real-time quantitative pcr. four parental engorged i. pacificus females were allowed to complete their developmental stages until the f2-generation eggs yielded unfed larvae. all eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults tested through 2 generations were found to be infected with phylotype g021. hence, we conclude that the efficiency of transo ...201323876278
plane of nutrition x tick burden interaction in cattle: effect on fecal composition.effective tick management on grazing animals is facilitated by accurate noninvasive detection methods. fecal analysis provides information about animal health and nutrition. diet affects fecal composition; stress may do likewise. the constituents in feces that may be affected by tick burdens and in turn affect near-infrared spectra have not been reported. our objective was to examine the interaction between plane of nutrition and tick burden on fecal composition in cattle. angus cross steers (n ...201323658354
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 ...201323421885
efficacy of an imidacloprid 10 % / flumethrin 4.5 % collar (seresto®, bayer) for preventing the transmission of cytauxzoon felis to domestic cats by amblyomma americanum.infection of cytauxzoon felis in domestic cats produces a severe disease characterised by fever, lethargy, inappetence, anorexia, depression, dehydration, icterus and often death. transmission of c. felis to cats is dependent on being fed upon by infected amblyomma americanum (lone star ticks). the purpose of the present study was to determine if application of a 10 % imidacloprid/4.5 % flumethrin collar (seresto®, bayer) on cats prevents transmission of c. felis by repelling ticks. twenty cats ...201323760871
prevalence and species of ticks on horses in central oklahoma.ticks are common on horses, but there is a dearth of contemporary data on infestation prevalence, predominant species, and tick-borne disease agents important in this host. to determine the species of ticks most common on horses and the prevalence of equine exposure to and infection with tick-borne disease agents, ticks and blood samples were collected from 73 horses during may, june, and july of 2010. adult ticks were identified to species, and antibodies to ehrlichia spp., anaplasma spp., and ...201324843940
prevalence of antibodies to spotted fever group rickettsia spp. and ehrlichia spp. in coyotes (canis latrans) in oklahoma and texas, usa.coyotes (canis latrans) are commonly infested with ticks, including amblyomma americanum, the predominant vector of ehrlichia chaffeensis and ehrlichia ewingii; dermacentor variabilis, an important vector of rickettsia rickettsii; and amblyomma maculatum, a major vector of rickettsia parkeri, a spotted fever group (sfg) rickettsia. to determine the degree to which coyotes are infected with or exposed to tick-borne bacterial disease agents, serum samples collected from coyotes in oklahoma and tex ...201323778619
hormonal and behavioral changes induced by acute and chronic experimental infestation with psoroptes cuniculi in the domestic rabbit oryctolagus cuniculus.parasitic diseases are important in animal production because they cause high economic losses. affected animals often exhibit stereotypical behavioral alterations such as anorexia and inactivity, among others. among the diseases that commonly affect domestic rabbits is mange, which is caused by the mite psoroptes cuniculi. therefore, within the context of the host-parasite relationship, it is critical to understand the mechanisms involved in the alteration of host behavior, in order to better ut ...201324354923
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 ...201323459099
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, ...201323308261
preliminary assessment of microbiome changes following blood-feeding and survivorship in the amblyomma americanum nymph-to-adult transition using semiconductor sequencing.the physiology of ticks supports a diverse community of non-pathogenic and pathogenic organisms. this study aims to initially characterize the microbial community present within colony-reared amblyomma americanum using pcr of the variable region 5 of the 16s rrna gene followed by semiconductor sequencing and classification of sequence data using the ribosomal database project and mg-rast analysis tools. comparison of amplicon library datasets revealed changes in the microbiomes in newly engorged ...201323826210
macrophage activation syndrome secondary to human monocytic ehrlichiosis.to present a case of human monocytic ehrlichiosis (hme) that was complicated by macrophage activation syndrome (mas), also known as secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (shlh).201325332563
a novel candidate vaccine for cytauxzoonosis inferred from comparative apicomplexan genomics.cytauxzoonosis is an emerging infectious disease of domestic cats (felis catus) caused by the apicomplexan protozoan parasite cytauxzoon felis. the growing epidemic, with its high morbidity and mortality points to the need for a protective vaccine against cytauxzoonosis. unfortunately, the causative agent has yet to be cultured continuously in vitro, rendering traditional vaccine development approaches beyond reach. here we report the use of comparative genomics to computationally and experiment ...201323977000
a crayfish insulin-like-binding protein: another piece in the androgenic gland insulin-like hormone puzzle is revealed.across the animal kingdom, the involvement of insulin-like peptide (ilp) signaling in sex-related differentiation processes is attracting increasing attention. recently, a gender-specific ilp was identified as the androgenic sex hormone in crustacea. however, moieties modulating the actions of this androgenic insulin-like growth factor were yet to be revealed. through molecular screening of an androgenic gland (ag) cdna library prepared from the crayfish cherax quadricarinatus, we have identifie ...201323775079
lyme borreliosis in human patients in florida and georgia, usa.the aim of this study was to determine the cause of illness in several human patients residing in florida and georgia, usa, with suspected lyme disease based upon em-like skin lesions and/or symptoms consistent with early localized or late disseminated lyme borreliosis. using polymerase chain reaction (pcr) assays developed specifically for lyme group borrelia spp., followed by dna sequencing for confirmation, we identified borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato dna in samples of blood and skin and als ...201323781138
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 ...201323569097
age-dependent expression of stress and antimicrobial genes in the hemocytes and siphon tissue of the antarctic bivalve, laternula elliptica, exposed to injury and starvation.increasing temperatures and glacier melting at the western antarctic peninsula (wap) are causing rapid changes in shallow coastal and shelf systems. climate change-related rising water temperatures, enhanced ice scouring, as well as coastal sediment runoff, in combination with changing feeding conditions and microbial community composition, will affect all elements of the nearshore benthic ecosystem, a major component of which is the antarctic soft-shelled clam laternula elliptica. a 454-based r ...201323666709
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.201323354701
ehrlichia chaffeensis uses its surface protein etpe to bind gpi-anchored protein dnase x and trigger entry into mammalian cells.ehrlichia chaffeensis, an obligatory intracellular rickettsial pathogen, enters and replicates in monocytes/macrophages and several non-phagocytic cells. e. chaffeensis entry into mammalian cells is essential not only for causing the emerging zoonosis, human monocytic ehrlichiosis, but also for its survival. it remains unclear if e. chaffeensis has evolved a specific surface protein that functions as an 'invasin' to mediate its entry. we report a novel entry triggering protein of ehrlichia, etpe ...201324098122
merogonic stages of theileria cervi in mule deer (odocoileus hemionus).in february 2012, 12 farmed mule deer (odocoileus hemionus) were moved from a facility in southwestern oklahoma to a facility in southeastern oklahoma that housed 100 farmed white-tailed deer (odocoileus virginianus). between the third and fifth weeks, 9 of the 12 mule deer had died, 4 of which were submitted for necropsy. the deer were heavily infested with amblyomma americanum (lone star ticks). hematologic data from 1 deer revealed severe anemia, leukocytosis, and intraerythrocytic hemoparasi ...201324029405
ixodid ticks associated with feral swine in texas.ixodid ticks were collected from feral swine in eight texas ecoregions from 2008-2011. sixty-two percent of 806 feral swine were infested with one or more of the following species: amblyomma americanum, a. cajennense, a. maculatum, dermacentor albipictus, d. halli, d. variabilis, and ixodes scapularis. juvenile and adult feral swine of both sexes were found to serve as host to ixodid ticks. longitudinal surveys of feral swine at four geographic locations show persistent year-round tick infestati ...201324581367
arthropod bites.the phylum arthropoda includes arachnids and insects. although their bites typically cause only local reactions, some species are venomous or transmit disease. the two medically important spiders in the united states are widow spiders (latrodectus), the bite of which causes intense muscle spasms, and the brown recluse (loxosceles), which may cause skin necrosis. widow bites usually respond to narcotics, benzodiazepines, or, when necessary, antivenom. most recluse bites resolve uneventfully witho ...201324364549
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 ...201322681499
a conceptual model of the amblyomma americanum life cycle in northeast missouri.the geographic distribution of amblyomma americanum (the lone star tick) has increased as has its role as a pathogen vector. the objectives of this study were to determine seasonal activity patterns of each life stage of a. americanum in the northwestern part of the species range and the relationship of these activity patterns among life stages and degree days. tick activity was monitored over four years since 2007 in a forest and old field habitat located in northeast missouri. every other week ...201323701610
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 ...201323540113
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 ...201323540110
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 ...201323538110
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 ...201323528036
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 ...201323427665
activity of the plant-based repellent, tt-4302 against the ticks amblyomma americanum, dermacentor variabilis, ixodes scapularis and rhipicephalus sanguineus (acari: ixodidae).the plant-based repellent tt-4302 (5 % geraniol) was compared to deet (15 %) in laboratory two-choice bioassays against the ticks amblyomma americanum, dermacentor variabilis, ixodes scapularis, and rhipicephalus sanguineus. at 2.5 and 3.5 h after treatment of filter paper with tt-4302, 100 % repellency was observed for all species at both time points with the exception of i. scapularis at the 3.5 h evaluation where repellency was 95.8 %. deet was 100 % repellent at both time points for d. varia ...201423907554
the ticks (acari: ixodida: argasidae, ixodidae) of bolivia.the tick species reported in bolivia are reviewed here as (1) endemic or established: ornithodoros echimys, o. guaporensis, o. hasei, o. kohlsi, o. mimon, o. peropteryx, o. rostratus, otobius megnini, amblyomma auricularium, a. cajennense, a. calcaratum, a. coelebs, a. dubitatum, a. humerale, a. incisum, a. longirostre, a. naponense, a. nodosum, a. oblongoguttatum, a. ovale, a. parvitarsum, a. parvum, a. pecarium, a. pseudoconcolor, a. rotundatum, a. scalpturatum, a. tigrinum, a. triste, dermace ...201424406053
comparative proteomics for the characterization of the most relevant amblyomma tick species as vectors of zoonotic pathogens worldwide.ticks transmit zoonotic pathogens worldwide. nevertheless, very little information is available on their genome, transcriptome and proteome. herein, we characterized the proteome of amblyomma americanum adults and nymphs because of their role in pathogen transmission and compared the proteome of a. americanum, a. cajennense and a. variegatum adult ticks. we also used de novo sequencing proteomics data for the analysis of the phylogenetic relationships between the three amblyomma spp. in a proof ...201424382551
multiplex qpcr assay for identification and differentiation of amblyomma americanum, amblyomma cajennense, and amblyomma maculatum (ixodida: ixodidae) tick species in the eastern united states.many ticks of the genus amblyomma are vectors of human pathogens, and the correct species identification is medically and epidemiologically important. morphological identification is time-consuming and requires a high level of expertise. identification of engorged, immature, or damaged ticks and the differentiation of closely related species remain problematic. here, we report the development of a real-time taqman assay for the genomic identification and differentiation of amblyomma americanum ( ...201425118411
expression of bovine genes associated with local and systemic immune response to infestation with the lone star tick, amblyomma americanum.the lone star tick, amblyomma americanum linnaeus 1758 (acari; ixodidae), causes considerable production losses to the southern u.s. cattle industry due to reduced weight, infertility, secondary infections at bite wound sites, damaged hides, and potentially death, as these ticks tend to infest livestock in large numbers. increasing environmental concerns, along with the potential for chemical residue in food products, have led to more emphasis on alternative tick control strategies, such as sele ...201425108787
suppression of amblyomma americanum (ixodida: ixodidae) for short-term field operations utilizing cypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin.tick-borne diseases pose significant risks to u.s. military personnel who conduct operations, both domestic and abroad. to determine the feasibility of protecting personnel from tick vectors during short-term field deployments, acaricides cypermethrin (demon wp, syngenta, greensboro, nc) and lambda-cyhalothrin (surrender pestabs, csi, pasadena, tx) were applied to plots within two separate field sites on camp blanding joint training center in starke, fl, from may to june 2011. we analyzed their ...201424897866
solvent, drying time, and substrate affect the responses of lone star ticks (acari: ixodidae) to the repellents deet and picaridin.behavioral bioassays remain a standard tool in the discovery, development, and registration of arthropod repellents. tick repellent bioassays are generally uncomplicated, but their results can be affected by basic variables (e.g., dimensions of testing materials, substrate, timing, temperature) of the assay. using lone star tick, amblyomma americanum (l.), nymphs in climbing bioassays, we tested for the effects of substrate, solvent, and drying time on tick responses. in dose-response tests, the ...201424897855
occurrence and county-level distribution of ticks (acari: ixodoidea) in nebraska using passive surveillance.a 100 yr (1911-2011) examination of tick submissions was compiled from the u.s. national tick collection and three state databases to determine tick species occurrence in nebraska sixteen tick species were identified including amblyomma americanum (l.), dermacentor variabilis (say), dermacentor albipictus (packard), dermacentor andersoni stiles, haemaphysalis leporispalustris (packard), rhipicephalus sanguineus (latreille), and otobius megrini (dughs). amblyomma maculatum koch and ixodes scapula ...201424724283
tick community composition in midwestern us habitats in relation to sampling method and environmental conditions.the ranges of many tick species are changing due to climate change and human alteration of the landscape. understanding tick responses to environmental conditions and how sampling method influences measurement of tick communities will improve our assessment of human disease risk. we compared tick sampling by three collection methods (dragging, co2 trapping and rodent surveys) in adjacent forested and grassland habitats in the lower midwest, usa, and analyzed the relationship between tick abundan ...201424705853
a case of tick-bite-induced red meat allergy.delayed hypersensitivity disorders and food allergies are often challenging for the clinician and patient alike. a recent discovery of an ige antibody specific to galactose-α-1,3-galactose, which is a carbohydrate abundantly expressed on cells and tissues of beef, pork, and lamb, adds one more tool to aid the clinician in making the appropriate diagnosis. a link has been discovered between the bite of the lone star tick (amblyomma americanum) and the development of sensitivity to galactose-α-1,3 ...201424690977
notes from the field: heartland virus disease - united states, 2012-2013.heartland virus is a newly identified phlebovirus that was first isolated from two northwestern missouri farmers hospitalized with fever, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia in 2009. based on the patients' clinical findings and their reported exposures, the virus was suspected to be transmitted by ticks. after this discovery, cdc worked with state and local partners to define the ecology and modes of transmission of heartland virus, develop diagnostic assays, and identify additional cases to descri ...201424670929
what's eating you? turkey mite and lone star tick (amblyomma americanum). 201424605342
understanding anaplasmataceae pathogenesis using "omics" approaches.this paper examines how "omics" approaches improve our understanding of anaplasmataceae pathogenesis, through a global and integrative strategy to identify genes and proteins involved in biochemical pathways key for pathogen-host-vector interactions. the anaplasmataceae family comprises obligate intracellular bacteria mainly transmitted by arthropods. these bacteria are responsible for major human and animal endemic and emerging infectious diseases with important economic and public health impac ...201425072029
relationship between degenerative joint disease, pain, and bartonella spp. seroreactivity in domesticated cats.recently, a potential association was identified between bartonella exposure and arthritides in mammalian species other than cats.201425327962
ehrlichia chaffeensis infection in the reservoir host (white-tailed deer) and in an incidental host (dog) is impacted by its prior growth in macrophage and tick cell environments.ehrlichia chaffeensis, transmitted from amblyomma americanum ticks, causes human monocytic ehrlichiosis. it also infects white-tailed deer, dogs and several other vertebrates. deer are its reservoir hosts, while humans and dogs are incidental hosts. e. chaffeensis protein expression is influenced by its growth in macrophages and tick cells. we report here infection progression in deer or dogs infected intravenously with macrophage- or tick cell-grown e. chaffeensis or by tick transmission in dee ...201425303515
porcine or bovine valve replacement in 3 patients with ige antibodies to the mammalian oligosaccharide galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose. 201425213067
bayesian spatio-temporal analysis and geospatial risk factors of human monocytic ehrlichiosis.variations in spatio-temporal patterns of human monocytic ehrlichiosis (hme) infection in the state of kansas, usa were examined and the relationship between hme relative risk and various environmental, climatic and socio-economic variables were evaluated. hme data used in the study was reported to the kansas department of health and environment between years 2005-2012, and geospatial variables representing the physical environment [national land cover/land use, nasa moderate resolution imaging ...201424992684
entamoeba histolytica and e. dispar calreticulin: inhibition of classical complement pathway and differences in the level of expression in amoebic liver abscess.the role of calreticulin (crt) in host-parasite interactions has recently become an important area of research. information about the functions of calreticulin and its relevance to the physiology of entamoeba parasites is limited. the present work demonstrates that crt of both pathogenic e. histolytica and nonpathogenic e. dispar species specifically interacted with human c1q inhibiting the activation of the classical complement pathway. using recombinant ehcrt protein, we demonstrate that crt i ...201424860808
prevalence of ehrlichia chaffeensis and ehrlichia ewingii in amblyomma americanum and dermacentor variabilis collected from southeastern virginia, 2010-2011.amblyomma americanum is the most commonly encountered tick species in southeastern virginia, representing approximately 95% of the human-biting tick population in this area. here we investigated the prevalence of ehrlichia chaffeensis and ehrlichia ewingii in questing amblyomma americanum and dermacentor variabilis ticks collected from multiple sites in southeastern virginia from 2010 to 2011. although both ehrlichia species were detected in amblyomma americanum, no evidence of either pathogen w ...201425155340
macroparasite fauna of alien grey squirrels (sciurus carolinensis): composition, variability and implications for native species.introduced hosts populations may benefit of an "enemy release" through impoverishment of parasite communities made of both few imported species and few acquired local ones. moreover, closely related competing native hosts can be affected by acquiring introduced taxa (spillover) and by increased transmission risk of native parasites (spillback). we determined the macroparasite fauna of invasive grey squirrels (sciurus carolinensis) in italy to detect any diversity loss, introduction of novel para ...201424505348
isolation of tacaribe virus, a caribbean arenavirus, from host-seeking amblyomma americanum ticks in florida.arenaviridae are a family of single stranded rna viruses of mammals and boid snakes. twenty-nine distinct mammalian arenaviruses have been identified, many of which cause severe hemorrhagic disease in humans, particularly in parts of sub-saharan africa, and in central and south america. humans typically become infected with an arenavirus through contact with excreta from infected rodents. tacaribe virus (tcrv) is an arenavirus that was first isolated from bats and mosquitoes during a rabies surv ...201425536075
delayed anaphylaxis to red meat associated with specific ige antibodies to galactose.a novel delayed anaphylactic reaction to red meat, associated with tick bites and ige antibodies against galactose-α-1, 3-galactose (α-gal), was reported in 2009 in the us, australia and europe. in this case, serum specific ige to galactose-α-1, 3-galactose (>100 ku/l) and ige to multiple non-primate mammalian proteins were positive. however, the pathogenesis of this disease remains unclear. we report the first case in asia of delayed anaphylactic reaction to red meat, which was induced by bites ...201425553269
emerging phleboviruses.the bunyavidae family is the largest grouping of rna viruses and arguably the most diverse. bunyaviruses have a truly global distribution and can infect vertebrates, invertebrates and plants. the majority of bunyaviruses are vectored by arthropods and thus have the remarkable capability to replicate in hosts of disparate phylogeny. the family has provided many examples of emerging viruses including sin nombre and related viruses responsible for hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome in the americas ...201424607799
five-month comparative efficacy evaluation of three ectoparasiticides against adult cat fleas (ctenocephalides felis), flea egg hatch and emergence, and adult brown dog ticks (rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato) on dogs housed outdoors.this study was designed to compare the efficacy of three topical combinations on dogs in outdoor conditions against adult cat fleas (ctenocephalides felis), flea egg hatch and emergence, and against adult brown dog ticks (rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato). treatment was performed on day 0 with a placebo; dinotefuran, pyriproxifen and permethrin (dpp); fipronil and (s)-methoprene (fm) or imidacloprid and permethrin (ip). dogs (n = 32), housed outdoors for 7 months, were treated monthly for fou ...201425547077
detection of bacterial agents in amblyomma americanum (acari: ixodidae) from georgia, usa, and the use of a multiplex assay to differentiate ehrlichia chaffeensis and ehrlichia ewingii.amblyomma americanum, the lone star tick, is the most common and most aggressive human biting tick in the southeastern united states. it is known to transmit the agents of human ehrlichioses, ehrlichia chaffeensis and ehrlichia ewingii. in addition, it carries agents of unspecified pathogenicity to humans, including rickettsia amblyommii, borrelia lonestari, and the newly emerging panola mountain ehrlichia (pme). surveillance of these ticks for recognized or emerging pathogens is necessary for a ...201425118421
exposure to borrelia burgdorferi and other tick-borne pathogens in gettysburg national military park, south-central pennsylvania, 2009.since 1998, lyme disease cases have increased in south-central pennsylvania, which includes gettysburg national military park (nmp). limited information is available about tick populations or pathogens in this area, and no data regarding frequency of tick bites or prevention measures among gettysburg nmp employees are available. to address these gaps, ticks were collected, classified, and replaced (to minimize disruptions to tick populations) at two sites within gettysburg nmp during april-septe ...201424689815
diversity of piroplasms detected in blood-fed and questing ticks from several states in the united states.piroplasms in the genera babesia, theileria, and cytauxzoon are tick-borne parasites that may be animal and human pathogens. most piroplasms with known life cycles are transmitted by ixodid ticks; however, for many species, the vector is unknown. this study was conducted to determine the prevalence and diversity of piroplasms in ticks from several us states. piroplasm-specific polymerase chain reaction (pcr) assays were used to test 1631 ticks from georgia (n=486), kentucky (n=103), pennsylvania ...201424709338
the prevalence of rickettsial and ehrlichial organisms in amblyomma americanum ticks collected from ohio and surrounding areas between 2000 and 2010.the lone star tick, amblyomma americanum, feeds upon a variety of hosts and is a known vector of several human pathogens. in ohio, populations of a. americanum have been expanding their range and increasing in abundance and distribution, thereby elevating the public health concerns regarding bites from this species. we used a set of pcr assays to detect the presence of ehrlichial and rickettsial species in a. americanum ticks submitted to the ohio department of health zoonotic disease program ov ...201425108789
rickettsiae and ehrlichiae within a city park: is the urban dweller at risk?tick-borne diseases, such as spotted fever rickettsioses and ehrlichioses, are potentially severe and life-threatening infections. the incidences of these infections increase during warm weather months as ticks become active. clinicians often consider outdoor activities in rural areas to be a risk factor for exposure to ticks and the pathogens they carry, but are those who live, work, and play within an urban environment excluded from this risk? in this study, we collected ticks from two urban p ...201424528097
"rickettsia amblyommii" and r. montanensis infection in dogs following natural exposure to ticks.to determine the risk of canine infection with spotted fever group (sfg) rickettsia spp. following natural tick exposure, 10 dogs determined to be free of evidence of exposure to or infection with tick-borne disease agents were exposed to ticks via weekly walks in a wooded area in north-central oklahoma. after each walk, dogs were examined and the number and species of ticks present were recorded. the dogs were then returned to outdoor kennels to allow the infestations and subsequent transmissio ...201424359419
efficacy of chemical repellents against otobius megnini (acari: argasidae) and three species of ixodid ticks.otobius megnini (dugès), often referred to as the ear tick or spinose ear tick, is a one-host tick native to the southwestern united states and mexico. infestations of this species can cause severe irritation and may affect breeding behavior in the host. although chemical repellents are commonly used as an alternative approach to conventional arthropod vector control, information on repellency against o. megnini is lacking. this study compared repellency of ammonia, bioud(®), 98.25% deet, garlic ...201424659519
the phenology of ticks and the effects of long-term prescribed burning on tick population dynamics in southwestern georgia and northwestern florida.some tick populations have increased dramatically in the past several decades leading to an increase in the incidence and emergence of tick-borne diseases. management strategies that can effectively reduce tick populations while better understanding regional tick phenology is needed. one promising management strategy is prescribed burning. however, the efficacy of prescribed burning as a mechanism for tick control is unclear because past studies have provided conflicting data, likely due to a fa ...201425375797
present and future potential of plant-derived products to control arthropods of veterinary and medical significance.the use of synthetic pesticides and repellents to target pests of veterinary and medical significance is becoming increasingly problematic. one alternative approach employs the bioactive attributes of plant-derived products (pdps). these are particularly attractive on the grounds of low mammalian toxicity, short environmental persistence and complex chemistries that should limit development of pest resistance against them.several pesticides and repellents based on pdps are already available, and ...201424428899
tick-borne pathogen - reversed and conventional discovery of disease.molecular methods have increased the number of known microorganisms associated with ticks significantly. some of these newly identified microorganisms are readily linked to human disease while others are yet unknown to cause human disease. the face of tick-borne disease discovery has changed with more diseases now being discovered in a "reversed way," detecting disease cases only years after the tick-borne microorganism was first discovered. compared to the conventional discovery of infectious d ...201425072045
the salivary secretome of the biting midge, culicoides sonorensis.culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae) are hematophagous insects with over 1400 species distributed throughout the world. many of these species are of particular agricultural importance as primary vectors of bluetongue and schmallenberg viruses, yet little is known about culicoides genomics and proteomics. detailed studies of members from other blood-feeding dipteran families, including those of mosquito (culicidae) and black fly (simuliidae), have shown that protein components with ...201424949243
analysis of multiple tsetse fly populations in uganda reveals limited diversity and species-specific gut microbiota.the invertebrate microbiome contributes to multiple aspects of host physiology, including nutrient supplementation and immune maturation processes. we identified and compared gut microbial abundance and diversity in natural tsetse flies from uganda using five genetically distinct populations of glossina fuscipes fuscipes and multiple tsetse species (glossina morsitans morsitans, g. f. fuscipes, and glossina pallidipes) that occur in sympatry in one location. we used multiple approaches, includin ...201424814785
detection of rickettsia amblyommii in ticks collected from missouri, usa. 201426038740
a blood meal-induced ixodes scapularis tick saliva serpin inhibits trypsin and thrombin, and interferes with platelet aggregation and blood clotting.ixodes scapularis is a medically important tick species that transmits causative agents of important human tick-borne diseases including borreliosis, anaplasmosis and babesiosis. an understanding of how this tick feeds is needed prior to the development of novel methods to protect the human population against tick-borne disease infections. this study characterizes a blood meal-induced i. scapularis (ixsc) tick saliva serine protease inhibitor (serpin (s)), in-house referred to as ixscs-1e1. the ...201424583183
reproducible and quantitative model of infection of dermacentor variabilis with the live vaccine strain of francisella tularensis.pathogen life cycles in mammalian hosts have been studied extensively, but studies with arthropod vectors represent considerable challenges. in part this is due to the difficulty of delivering a reproducible dose of bacteria to follow arthropod-associated replication. we have established reproducible techniques to introduce known numbers of francisella tularensis strain lvs from mice into dermacentor variabilis nymphs. using this model infection system, we performed dose-response infection exper ...201425362054
dual silencing of long and short amblyomma americanum acidic chitinase forms weakens the tick cement cone stability.this study demonstrates that amblyomma americanum (aam) constitutively and ubiquitously expresses the long (l) and short (s) putative acidic chitinases (ach) that are distinguished by a 210 base pair (bp) deletion in aamach-s. full-length aamach-l and aamach-s cdna are 1959 and 1718 bp long, containing 1332 and 1104 bp open reading frames that code for 443 and 367 amino acid residues proteins with the former predicted to be extracellular and the latter intracellular. both aamach-l and aamach-s m ...201425189365
bioinformatic analyses of male and female amblyomma americanum tick expressed serine protease inhibitors (serpins).serine protease inhibitors (serpins) are a diverse family of proteins that is conserved across taxa. the diversity of amblyomma americanum serpins (aas) is far more complex than previously thought as revealed by discovery of 57 and 33 aas transcripts that are respectively expressed in male and female a. americanum ticks, with 30 found in both. while distinct reproductively, both male and female metastriate ticks, such as a. americanum, require a blood meal. thus, 30 aas sequences found in both m ...201425238688
a systems biology approach to the characterization of stress response in dermacentor reticulatus tick unfed larvae.dermacentor reticulatus (fabricius, 1794) is distributed in europe and asia where it infests and transmits disease-causing pathogens to humans, pets and other domestic and wild animals. however, despite its role as a vector of emerging or re-emerging diseases, very little information is available on the genome, transcriptome and proteome of d. reticulatus. tick larvae are the first developmental stage to infest hosts, acquire infection and transmit pathogens that are transovarially transmitted a ...201424586875
genome characterization of long island tick rhabdovirus, a new virus identified in amblyomma americanum ticks.ticks are implicated as hosts to a wide range of animal and human pathogens. the full range of microbes harbored by ticks has not yet been fully explored.201424517260
cockroach, tick, storage mite and other arthropod allergies: where do we stand with molecular allergy diagnostics?: part 15 of the series molecular allergology.arthropods form a broad phylum within the animal kingdom, comprising widely varying members such as insects, arachnids, crabs and centipedes. in addition to common allergies to house dust mites or hymenoptera venom, there are also rarer allergies that can be attributed to three major sources of allergens: cockroaches, ticks and storage mites. other less known allergen sources include spiders, mosquitos, horseflies, red chironomid larvae, silverfish and ladybugs, as well as a variety of storage p ...201426146603
ixodes pacificus ticks maintain embryogenesis and egg hatching after antibiotic treatment of rickettsia endosymbiont.rickettsia is a genus of intracellular bacteria that causes a variety of diseases in humans and other mammals and associates with a diverse group of arthropods. although rickettsia appears to be common in ticks, most rickettsia-tick relationships remain generally uncharacterized. the most intimate of these associations is rickettsia species phylotype g021, a maternally and transstadially transmitted endosymbiont that resides in 100% of i. pacificus in california. we investigated the effects of t ...201425105893
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