Assessment of the Geographic Distribution of Ornithodoros turicata (Argasidae): Climate Variation and Host Diversity

Donaldson, Taylor G.; León, Adalberto A Pérez de; Li, Andrew; Castro-Arellano, Iván; Wozniak, Edward J.; Boyle, William K.; Hargrove, Reid; Wilder, Hannah K.; Kim, Hee J.; Teel, Pete D.; López, Job E.

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004383

Cited by 64 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…It is important to note, that a soft tick species (i.e. Carios kelleyi ) ecologically similar to O. turicata has been collected from bats emerging from cave systems in Texas (Donaldson et al., ). Donaldson and colleagues suggest that bats may facilitate the dissemination of O. turicata ticks given the regular cave locality and opportunistic feeding nature of the ticks.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is also predicted that O. turicata ticks are sensitive to specific environmental conditions that restrict its spread within additional U.S. states that span between the established locations of Texas and Florida (Donaldson et al., ). Briefly, this intrastate region has been described to feature elevated temperatures during the driest quarter of the year and low temperatures during the wettest quarter as compared to average readings across the county, which may impede the ticks ability to colonize the area (Lopez et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to the increased resistance of ticks to acaricides (Coles & Dryden, ), ease of travel, and the continuous geographical expansion of ticks (Donaldson et al., ; Eisen, Eisen, & Beard, ; Schurer, Ndao, Quewezance, Elmore, & Jenkins, ), dogs ( canis lupus familiaris ) are at continuous risk for tick‐borne diseases (TBD) in the United States (Chomel, ; Fritz, ). The groups consisting of borrelial ( Borrelia turicatae , B. hermsii , B. parkeri , B. burgdorferi ), rickettsial ( Ehrlichia canis , E .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Molecular prevalence and ecoregion distribution of select tick‐borne pathogens in Texas dogs

Modarelli

Tomeček

Piccione

et al. 2019

Transbound Emerg Dis

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Summary Tick‐borne diseases (TBD), caused by borrelial, rickettsial and babesial pathogens, are common across the United States and can cause severe clinical disease in susceptible hosts, such as domestic dogs. However, there are limited TBD molecular epidemiological reports for dogs in Texas, and none for the non‐Lyme borrelial pathogen responsible for causing tick‐borne relapsing fever (TBRF). Therefore, data to support the prevalence of TBRF in the canine population is inadequate. This study aimed to characterize the molecular prevalence of 11 causative agents responsible for three TBD groups within domestic dogs with an emphasis on pathogen distribution within Texas ecoregions. A total representative number of 1,171 whole‐blood samples were collected opportunistically from two Texas veterinary diagnostic laboratories. A layerplex real‐time PCR assay was utilized to screen the dog samples for all 11 pathogens simultaneously. The overall molecular infection prevalence of disease was 0.68% borrelial, 1.8% rickettsial and 0.43% babesial pathogens, for a TBD total of 2.73% across Texas. Higher molecular prevalence was observed when analysed by ecoregion distinction, including 5.78% rickettsial infections by Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma platys in the Rolling Plains ecoregion, and an average of 1.1% Borrelia turicatae and 1.0% Babesia gibsoni across detected ecoregions. To our knowledge, our findings indicate the first molecular detection of A. platys in Texas, and the first report of coinfections with E. canis and A. platys in dogs of Texas. The zoonotic concerns associated with TBDs, in conjunction with dogs’ implication as an effective sentinel for human disease, highlight the importance of characterizing and monitoring regions associated with active infections in dogs. Surveillance data obtained from this study may aid public health agencies in updating maps depicting high‐risk areas of disease and developing preventative measures for the affected areas.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Molecular prevalence and ecoregion distribution of select tick‐borne pathogens in Texas dogs

Modarelli

Tomeček

Piccione

et al. 2019

Transbound Emerg Dis

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“…Nymphal ticks used in this study were progeny of adult O. turicata from laboratory-reared colonies, and an uninfected cohort was reared through the second-instar nymphs. The two colonies originated from Kansas (O. turicata-KS) (7) and southern Texas (O. turicata-TX) (25). Ticks were housed at 25°C and 85% relative humidity (26).…”

Section: Fig 10mentioning

confidence: 99%

Imaging of Borrelia turicatae Producing the Green Fluorescent Protein Reveals Persistent Colonization of the Ornithodoros turicata Midgut and Salivary Glands from Nymphal Acquisition through Transmission

Krishnavajhala

Wilder

Boyle

et al. 2017

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Relapsing fever (RF) spirochetes colonize and are transmitted to mammals primarily by Ornithodoros ticks, and little is known regarding the pathogen's life cycle in the vector. To further understand vector colonization and transmission of RF spirochetes, Borrelia turicatae expressing a green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker (B. turicatae-gfp) was generated. The transformants were evaluated during the tick-mammal infectious cycle, from the third nymphal instar to adult stage. B. turicatae-gfp remained viable for at least 18 months in starved fourth-stage nymphal ticks, and the studies indicated that spirochete populations persistently colonized the tick midgut and salivary glands. Our generation of B. turicatae-gfp also revealed that within the salivary glands, spirochetes are localized in the ducts and lumen of acini, and after tick feeding, the tissues remained populated with spirochetes. The B. turicatae-gfp generated in this study is an important tool to further understand and define the mechanisms of vector colonization and transmission.IMPORTANCE In order to interrupt the infectious cycle of tick-borne relapsing fever spirochetes, it is important to enhance our understanding of vector colonization and transmission. Toward this, we generated a strain of Borrelia turicatae that constitutively produced the green fluorescent protein, and we evaluated fluorescing spirochetes during the entire infectious cycle. We determined that the midgut and salivary glands of Ornithodoros turicata ticks maintain the pathogens throughout the vector's life cycle and remain colonized with the spirochetes for at least 18 months. We also determined that the tick's salivary glands were not depleted after a transmission blood feeding. These findings set the framework to further understand the mechanisms of midgut and salivary gland colonization.

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“…In Texas, Ornithodoros turicata transmits the TBRF causative agent, Borrelia turicatae (Davis, ; Donaldson et al, ; Rawlings, ). The B. turicatae lifecycle is maintained in this region by small and medium‐sized animal hosts (Armstrong et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the risk of tick‐borne relapsing fever among occupational cavers—Austin, TX, 2017

Campbell

Klioueva²,

Taylor³

et al. 2019

Zoonoses and Public Health

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Tick‐borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a potentially serious spirochetal infection caused by certain species of Borrelia and acquired through the bite of Ornithodoros ticks. In 2017, Austin Public Health, Austin, TX, identified five cases of febrile illness among employees who worked in caves. A cross‐sectional serosurvey and interview were conducted for 44 employees at eight organizations that conduct cave‐related work. Antibodies against TBRF‐causing Borrelia were detected in the serum of five participants, four of whom reported recent illness. Seropositive employees entered significantly more caves (Median 25 [SD: 15] versus Median 4 [SD: 16], p = 0.04) than seronegative employees. Six caves were entered more frequently by seropositive employees posing a potentially high risk. Several of these caves were in public use areas and were opened for tours. Education of area healthcare providers about TBRF and prevention recommendations for cavers and the public are advised.

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Assessment of the Geographic Distribution of Ornithodoros turicata (Argasidae): Climate Variation and Host Diversity

Cited by 64 publications

References 47 publications

Molecular prevalence and ecoregion distribution of select tick‐borne pathogens in Texas dogs

Molecular prevalence and ecoregion distribution of select tick‐borne pathogens in Texas dogs

Imaging of Borrelia turicatae Producing the Green Fluorescent Protein Reveals Persistent Colonization of the Ornithodoros turicata Midgut and Salivary Glands from Nymphal Acquisition through Transmission

Evaluating the risk of tick‐borne relapsing fever among occupational cavers—Austin, TX, 2017

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