Prevalence ofBorrelia burgdorferi(Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae),Anaplasma phagocytophilum(Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae), andBabesia microti(Piroplasmida: Babesiidae) inIxodes scapularis(Acari: Ixodidae) Collected From Recreational Lands in the Hudson Valley Region, New York State

Abstract

Blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis Say, were collected from 27 sites in eight New York State counties from 2003 to 2006 to determine the prevalence and distribution of tick-borne pathogens in public-use areas over a 4-yr period. In total, 11,204 I. scapularis (3,300 nymphs and 7,904 adults) were individually analyzed using polymerase chain reaction to detect the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi (causative agent of Lyme disease), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (formerly Ehrlichia phagocytophila, causative agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis), and Babesia microti (causative agent of human babesiosis). Overall prevalence of B. burgdorferi, A. phagocytophilum, and B. microti was 14.4, 6.5, and 2.7% in nymphs and 45.7, 12.3, and 2.5% in adult ticks, respectively. Rates varied geographically and temporally during the time period examined, and were related to measurements of tick density. Average rate ofpolymicrobial infection for nymphs and adults, respectively, was 1.5 and 8.5% overall, with 0.5 and 6.3% coinfection of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum, 1.0 and 1.5% B. burgdorferi and B. microti, and 0.05 and 0.6% A. phagocytophilum and B. microti. Thirty-three individual adult ticks from seven study sites in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, and Rockland counties tested positive for simultaneous infection with all three agents by multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay.

The Blacklegged Tick, Ixodes scapularis : An Increasing Public Health Concern

“…burgdorferi and Ba. microti share a common reservoir, the white-footed mouse, explaining the increased likelihood of finding coinfections more often than expected by chance [85,86,91]. Recent evidence suggests that Bo.…”

“…burgdorferi promotes transmission of Ba. microti , and the former typically becomes established in new foci before the latter [85,86,91,92]. By contrast, coinfection with Bo.…”

Detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti , Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, and Powassan Virus in Ticks by a Multiplex Real-Time Reverse Transcription-PCR Assay

“…The surveillance of tick-borne pathogens is not well developed despite the fact that these diseases are underreported and are undergoing rapid range expansion (4, 5). In many areas where TBD are endemic, all agents cocirculate, increasing the likelihood of coinfection of both ticks and humans (6–9). Established multiplex real-time PCR assays typically target B. burgdorferi , B. microti , and A. phagocytophilum , but not B. miyamotoi or POWV (10–12).…”

Variation in the Microbiota of Ixodes Ticks with Regard to Geography, Species, and Sex

“…Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, for which the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis, is the principal vector in the Midwest and on the East Coast. It also transmits other pathogens causing human diseases, including the pathogens causing anaplasmosis and babesiosis (2,3).…”