Prevalence and Distribution of Human and Tick Infections with theEhrlichia muris-Like Agent andAnaplasma phagocytophilumin Wisconsin, 2009–2015

Abstract

Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis are important emerging tickborne zoonoses that affect both humans and animals. Knowledge of the geographic distribution and prevalence of Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Wisconsin is important information as a baseline for future comparisons. Reported human cases between 2009 and 2015 were identified using the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WEDSS) and mapped by county of residence. Vector surveillance was established using ticks collected from animals by partners, including veterinary medical clinics, domestic animal shelters, and wildlife rehabilitation centers from 40 Wisconsin counties. A total of 1835 Ixodes scapularis tick specimens (larvae, nymphs, and adults) were collected from 18 different domestic and wildlife species from July 2011 to November 2015. An additional 1136 nymphs were collected by drag sampling at 23 locations in 19 counties in 2015. A real-time PCR assay that detects and distinguishes several Ehrlichia species, including a pathogenic Ehrlichia muris-like agent (EMLA), and A. phagocytophilum was performed on adult and nymphal ticks. A total of 757 I. scapularis ticks (predominately adults) were tested from animal collections, with 67 (8.9%) individuals positive for A. phagocytophilum and 22 (2.9%) positive for EMLA DNA. Of the 1150 questing nymphs, 62 (5.4%) were positive for A. phagocytophilum and 10 (0.9%) were positive for EMLA DNA. Specimens of I. scapularis that were positive for A. phagocytophilum were found in 27 of the 33 counties surveyed. Specimens that were positive for EMLA were less common and were found in nine counties. This study provides the first statewide survey of I. scapularis ticks for these pathogens and indicates that the risk of human exposure is widely distributed.

Regional and Local Temporal Trends of Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma spp. Seroprevalence in Domestic Dogs: Contiguous United States 2013–2019

“…Recently, several states within the Northeast have reported decreases in the number of human cases reported annually (65). In Wisconsin and Minnesota, trends of human incidence appeared to be stable during this study period (66). It is important to note that these are short term trends, and the long-term implications of these trends are unknown at this time.…”

Infección por Ehrlichia canis y Anaplasma sp. en caninos atendidos en clínicas veterinarias en Barranquilla, Colombia

“…Producen enfermedades zoonóticas emergentes que infectan principalmente caninos y bovinos, además, caballos y humanos (2), tambien se han reportado en felinos (4). Son infecciones multisistémicas y se caracterizan por signos clínicos inespecíficos y alteraciones hematologicas en caninos (5) y en humanos (6). Pueden ser diagnosticadas por diferentes técnicas de laboratorio que incluyen pruebas indirectas (IFI, ELISA) y directas (Ej.…”

“…These bacteria produce emerging zoonotic diseases that infect mainly dogs and cattle, horses, human beings (2), also it has been reported in felines (4). They are multisystemic and characterized by nonspecific clinical signs and hematological alterations in dogs (5) and in human beings (6). They are diagnosed by different laboratory techniques that include indirect (IFI, ELISA) and direct tests (eg Blood Frotis and Polymerase Chain Reaction-PCR) (5,7).…”

Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Tick-Borne Diseases in North-Central Wisconsin from 2000–2016

“…Past research described the geographical spread of Ixodes scapularis (the vector of the causative agents for Lyme disease, HGA, babesiosis and a strain of recently identified Ehrlichia ) in Wisconsin from the western part of the state beginning in the 1980s and continuing into the 2000s [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Additionally, several studies described the prevalence of infection in I. scapularis ticks collected at sites across Wisconsin [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Indeed, virtually all of Wisconsin is currently classified as having evidence of established I. scapularis populations and having high predicted acarological risk for Lyme disease [ 11 , 12 ].…”