Note on Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, and “Borrelia lonestari” infection in lone star ticks (Acari: Ixodidae), Nebraska, USA

The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae), is established in southeastern Nebraska yet the prevalence of tick-associated microorganisms is not known. An initial PCR-based analysis for Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, and Borrelia infection in host-seeking adult ticks collected in southeast Nebraska was conducted. A total of 251 adult ticks collected in six sites in southeast Nebraska were tested. E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, and Borrelia spp. were present, and the prevalence of each was approximately 1.6%. This study demonstrates that Ehrlichia spp. are present in Nebraska lone star tick populations

Note on \u3ci\u3eEhrlichia chaffeensis\u3c/i\u3e, \u3ci\u3eEhrlichia ewingii\u3c/i\u3e, and “\u3ci\u3eBorrelia lonestari\u3c/i\u3e” Infection in Lone Star Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae), Nebraska, USA

The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae), is established in southeastern Nebraska, yet the prevalence of tick-associated microorganisms is not known. An initial PCR-based analysis for Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, and Borrelia infection in host-seeking adult ticks collected in southeast Nebraska was conducted. A total of 251 adult ticks collected in six sites in southeast Nebraska were tested. E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, and Borrelia spp. were present, and the prevalence of each was approximately 1.6%. This study demonstrates that Ehrlichia spp. are present in Nebraska lone star tick populations

First Records of Established Populations of \u3ci\u3eIxodes scapularis\u3c/i\u3e (Acari: Ixodidae) Collected from Three Nebraska Counties

Reported cases of Lyme disease in Nebraska have been assumed to be imported from other endemic areas. Previous surveillance efforts provided no evidence of established populations as only individual specimens of Ixodes scapularis (Say) had been collected. In the winter of 2018, adult I. scapularis were found on a dog at Two Rivers State Recreation Area, Douglas County, prompting tick collection at the site and nearby natural areas. In May 2019, all life stages of host-seeking I. scapularis were collected using dragging and flagging techniques in sites located near the Platte River in Douglas, Sarpy, and Saunders counties. This is the first documentation of established populations of I. scapularis in Nebraska

Predicting the Risk of Lyme Disease: Habitat Suitability for Ixodes scapularis in the North Central United States

The distribution and abundance of Ixodes scapularis were studied in Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and portions of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan by inspecting small mammals for ticks and by collecting questing ticks at 138 locations in state parks and natural areas. Environmental data were gathered at a local level (i.e., micro and meso levels), and a geographic information system (GIS) was used with several digitized coverages of environmental data to create a habitat profile for each site and a grid map for Wisconsin and Illinois. Results showed that the presence and abundance of I. scapularis varied, even when the host population was adequate. Tick presence was positively associated with deciduous, dry to mesic forests and alfisol-type soils of sandy or loam-sand textures overlying sedimentary rock. Tick absence was associated with grasslands, conifer forests, wet to wet/mesic forests, acidic soils of low fertility and a clay soil texture, and Precambrian bedrock. We performed a discriminant analysis to determine environmental differences between positive and negative tick sites and a regression equation to examine the probability of I. scapularis presence per grid. Both analyses indicated that soil order and land cover were the dominant contributors to tick presence. We then constructed a risk map indicating suitable habitats within areas where I. scapularis is already established. The risk map also shows areas of high probability the tick will become established if introduced. Thus, this risk analysis has both explanatory power and predictive capability

Quantitative Factors Proposed to Influence the Prevalence of Canine Tick-Bourne Disease Agents in the United States

The Companion Animal Parasite Council hosted a meeting to identify quantifiable factors that can influence the prevalence of tick-borne disease agents among dogs in North America. This report summarizes the approach used and the factors identified for further analysis with mathematical models of canine exposure to tick-borne pathogens

County-Level Surveillance of White-Tailed Deer Infestation by \u3ci\u3eIxodes scapularis\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eDermacentor albipictus\u3c/i\u3e (Acari: Ixodidae) Along the Illinois River

From 1998 to 2003, 4,935 hunter-killed deer in northern and central Illinois were examined for ticks; 4,066 blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis Say, and 6,530 winter ticks, Dermacentor albipictus (Packard) (Acari: Ixodidae), were collected. I. scapularis was the predominant tick species in the northern portion of the study area, with a decreasing north-to-south prevalence gradient. In contrast, D. albipictus was more common in the south with a decreasing south-to-north prevalence gradient. Compared with previous studies, the geographic range for both species expanded into the central portion of the Illinois River. Prevalence and intensity of both tick species were greater on bucks, and infested bucks were geographically more widespread than infested does and fawns. These findings indicate that blacklegged tick and winter tick distributions remain dynamic in the north central United State

Note on \u3ci\u3eEhrlichia chaffeensis\u3c/i\u3e, \u3ci\u3eEhrlichia ewingii\u3c/i\u3e, and “\u3ci\u3eBorrelia lonestari\u3c/i\u3e” Infection in Lone Star Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae), Nebraska, USA

The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae), is established in southeastern Nebraska, yet the prevalence of tick-associated microorganisms is not known. An initial PCR-based analysis for Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, and Borrelia infection in host-seeking adult ticks collected in southeast Nebraska was conducted. A total of 251 adult ticks collected in six sites in southeast Nebraska were tested. E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, and Borrelia spp. were present, and the prevalence of each was approximately 1.6%. This study demonstrates that Ehrlichia spp. are present in Nebraska lone star tick populations

Investigations of White -Tailed Deer Infestation by Ixodes Scapularis on the Illinois River, USA

155 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007.From 1998 to 2003, hunter-killed white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann)) were inspected for Ixodes scapularis (Say) (Acari: Ixodidae) to ascertain tick establishment along the Illinois River. A county-level study demonstrated that I. scapularis is the predominant tick in the northern portion of the Illinois River, unlike Dermacentor albipictus (Packard) (Acari: Ixodidae) that was most common in the southern part. A geographic information system (GIS) was used in conjunction with spatial statistics to determine the spatial pattern of hunter-killed deer along the river. The results demonstrated that deer are clustered and their distribution is best explained by riverine forest cover. Bivariate and nearest-neighbor spatial analyses indicated that infested deer were more clustered than uninfested deer. Local spatial analyses identified the locations of high and low I. scapularis prevalence clusters. High clusters were found in the northern portion of the river and although low clusters were predominant in the south, some were identified in more northerly locations. High prevalence clusters were associated with alfisol soil texture and dry-mesic upland forests, and situated closer to Castle Rock State Park, the first known site of I. scapularis establishment in Illinois. Individual deer prevalence was also associated with upland dry-mesic forests and proximity to Castle Rock State Park, as well as with loam and gravelly loam soils, entisol and inceptisol soil orders, average temperature for the week prior to the hunt and deer sex and age status. Increasing trends in tick prevalence and intensity, coupled with the identification of new high prevalence clusters, suggest that the geographic range of I. scapularis is expanding south along the Illinois River. The implications of these findings are that I. scapularis distribution in Illinois continues to be dynamic, and that Borrelia burgdorferi and other I. scapularis-borne pathogens may eventually be transmitted around and south of the Peoria metropolitan area. Further entomological and epidemiologic studies are warranted to ascertain human and canine Lyme disease in these areas.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD

Investigations of White -Tailed Deer Infestation by Ixodes Scapularis on the Illinois River, USA

155 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007.From 1998 to 2003, hunter-killed white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann)) were inspected for Ixodes scapularis (Say) (Acari: Ixodidae) to ascertain tick establishment along the Illinois River. A county-level study demonstrated that I. scapularis is the predominant tick in the northern portion of the Illinois River, unlike Dermacentor albipictus (Packard) (Acari: Ixodidae) that was most common in the southern part. A geographic information system (GIS) was used in conjunction with spatial statistics to determine the spatial pattern of hunter-killed deer along the river. The results demonstrated that deer are clustered and their distribution is best explained by riverine forest cover. Bivariate and nearest-neighbor spatial analyses indicated that infested deer were more clustered than uninfested deer. Local spatial analyses identified the locations of high and low I. scapularis prevalence clusters. High clusters were found in the northern portion of the river and although low clusters were predominant in the south, some were identified in more northerly locations. High prevalence clusters were associated with alfisol soil texture and dry-mesic upland forests, and situated closer to Castle Rock State Park, the first known site of I. scapularis establishment in Illinois. Individual deer prevalence was also associated with upland dry-mesic forests and proximity to Castle Rock State Park, as well as with loam and gravelly loam soils, entisol and inceptisol soil orders, average temperature for the week prior to the hunt and deer sex and age status. Increasing trends in tick prevalence and intensity, coupled with the identification of new high prevalence clusters, suggest that the geographic range of I. scapularis is expanding south along the Illinois River. The implications of these findings are that I. scapularis distribution in Illinois continues to be dynamic, and that Borrelia burgdorferi and other I. scapularis-borne pathogens may eventually be transmitted around and south of the Peoria metropolitan area. Further entomological and epidemiologic studies are warranted to ascertain human and canine Lyme disease in these areas.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD