Surveillance for Ixodes scapularis (Acari Ixodidae) and Borrelia burgdorferi in Eastern South Dakota State Parks and Nature Areas

Abstract

Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) is the principal vector of Borrelia burgdorferi (the etiologic agent of Lyme disease) in the eastern and midwestern United States. Recent efforts have documented the first established population of I. scapularis in South Dakota, representing a western expansion of the known species distribution. Our goal was to describe the current distribution of I. scapularis in eastern South Dakota and to survey for the presence of B. burgdorferi in questing I. scapularis. We surveyed for the presence of adult and nymphal I. scapularis in seven counties within South Dakota, including 13 locales from 2016 to 2017. We then tested all I. scapularis, including those collected in 2015 from a previous study, for the presence of B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, via quantitative and conventional polymerase chain reaction. Here, we document the presence of I. scapularis in four new counties in South Dakota, and report the first instance of B. burgdorferi in a questing tick in South Dakota. Coupled with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Companion Animal Parasite Council our data show that the risk of contracting Lyme disease in South Dakota is low, but existent and should be an important consideration with regard to public health, pets, and wildlife.

Monitoring Trends in Distribution and Seasonality of Medically Important Ticks in North America Using Online Crowdsourced Records from iNaturalist

“…were broadly distributed throughout the US portion of the study region, and in Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the more southerly areas of Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec in Canada ( Figure 2 C). Again, observations of I. scapularis were found throughout its known established range with scattered observations at the edges ( Figure 2 D), suggestive of expansion into new areas, as reported in the literature [ 3 , 6 , 38 , 45 , 47 , 48 , 54 , 73 , 74 ].…”

“…Similar to recent passive tick surveillance projects [ 38 , 45 ], this study identified a number of US counties with previously unreported A. americanum and I. scapularis records from iNaturalist observations. These were primarily in counties adjacent to areas with established or reported tick presence, suggesting that these likely represent areas of tick expansion such as in eastern South Dakota, where I. scapularis has been confirmed by active field surveillance in recent years [ 73 , 74 ]. However, since geographical data associated with iNaturalist observations were not verified, it is not possible to determine whether these simply resulted from travel to neighboring counties.…”

Changes in the geographic distribution of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, in the United States

“…burgdorferi s.s. was detected from one nymph and two adults collected in Grand Forks County ( Russart et al, 2014 ). In far eastern South Dakota, surveillance efforts in 2015–2019 documented I. scapularis in three counties to the north (Day, Marshall and Roberts) and three counties along the Missouri River in the south (Clay, Lincoln, and Union) ( Maestas et al, 2016 , 2018 ; Black et al, 2021 ). Two of these counties (Clay and Day) reached the criteria for an established I. scapularis population, and Bo.…”

“…Two of these counties (Clay and Day) reached the criteria for an established I. scapularis population, and Bo. burgdorferi s.s. was detected in a total of three adult I. scapularis from the two counties ( Maestas et al, 2018 ; Black et al, 2021 ). In far eastern Nebraska, established populations of I. scapularis were documented along the Platte River in Douglas, Sarpy, and Saunders counties in 2019 ( Nielsen et al, 2020 ), and in Thurston County in 2021 ( Hamik et al, 2023 ).…”

Acaricidal Efficacy Against Ticks Delcid

“…To prevent the suction of ixodic ticks and transfer of infectious and invasive diseases, new compositions with prominent acaricidal qualities, the majority of which belong to the group of synthetic pyrethroids, are being constantly created [1,4,14]. Synthetic pyrethroids are widely used in agricultural chemistry to fight against plant pests, as well as in veterinary medicine to protect animals against blood-sucking insects [13]. During the study of efficient compositions to fight against ixodic ticks, the main attention was paid to safe acaricides suitable for agriculture.…”