Article
Immunology
Yamila Romer, Kayla Adcock, Zhuoran Wei, Daniel G. Mead, Oscar Kirstein, Steph Bellman, Anne Piantadosi, Uriel Kitron, Gonzalo M. Vazquez-Prokopec
Summary: This study in Georgia, USA, investigated the presence of Heartland virus (HRTV) in ticks and found that it was present in Amblyomma americanum ticks. The virus was isolated and its genome was sequenced, showing similarity with other HRTV isolates but also marked differences. This finding highlights the importance of awareness and understanding of this emerging tickborne pathogen among clinicians and public health professionals.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ishmael D. Aziati, Derek McFarland Jnr, Avan Antia, Astha Joshi, Anahi Aviles -Gamboa, Preston Lee, Houda Harastani, David Wang, Solny A. Adalsteinsson, Adrianus C. M. Boon
Summary: Heartland and Bourbon viruses, potentially transmitted by Amblyomma americanum ticks, were found to be prevalent in ticks collected from an environmental field station in Missouri. The detection of these viruses in an area close to a large urban center poses a greater public health threat than previously thought.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Wilson R. Raney, Josiah B. Perry, Meghan E. Hermance
Summary: The study demonstrated experimental acquisition and transmission of Heartland bandavirus by Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks, indicating horizontal transmission and transovarial transmission of the virus. The virus was detected in tick salivary gland and midgut tissues, showing that H. longicornis ticks can transmit the virus through different tissues.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Alan P. Dupuis, Melissa A. Prusinski, Collin O'Connor, Joseph G. Maffei, Kiet A. Ngo, Cheri A. Koetzner, Michael P. Santoriello, Christopher L. Romano, Guang Xu, Fumiko Ribbe, Scott R. Campbell, Stephen M. Rich, P. Bryon Backenson, Laura D. Kramer, Alexander T. Ciota
Summary: In 2018, Heartland virus RNA was detected in an Amblyomma americanum tick found on a resident in Suffolk County, New York, USA, leading to seroconversion in the person. Tick surveillance and white-tailed deer serosurveys indicated widespread distribution of the ticks in the county, highlighting the importance of disease surveillance in areas where A. americanum ticks are established or emerging.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Tian Xia, Xin Wu, Eunjin Hong, Kyle Jung, Chih-Jen Lai, Mi-Jeong Kwak, Hogyu Seo, Stephanie Kim, Zhongyi Jiang, Inho Cha, Jae U. U. Jung
Summary: Due to climate change, emerging tick-borne zoonotic viruses such as HRTV and DBV have become a significant concern. However, the mechanisms of viral infection remain largely unknown. This study reveals that the glycosphingolipid biosynthesis pathway, especially GlcCer, is essential for HRTV and DBV infection. GlcCer targets the lipid-head-group binding pocket of Gn/Gc glycoproteins, facilitating viral fusion and entry. These findings provide valuable mechanistic insights and a potential therapeutic target for tick-borne virus infection.
Article
Entomology
Marvin S. Godsey, Dominic Rose, Kristin L. Burkhalter, Nicole Breuner, Angela M. Bosco-Lauth, Olga Kosoy, Harry M. Savage
Summary: Experimental results demonstrate that Amblyomma americanum is a competent vector of Bourbon virus, with cofeeding playing a critical role in enzootic maintenance.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Erin S. Reynolds, Jacob T. Wooldridge, Heather L. Stevenson, Saravanan Thangamani
Summary: Through our investigations, we have identified A129 mice as the most appropriate small animal model for mimicking HRTV pathogenesis and human clinical outcomes. We have also found that tick saliva enhances pathogen transmission and exacerbates the clinical outcomes of HRTV infection.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Bo Lyu, Jingjing Li, Brigid Niemeyer, David Stanley, Qisheng Song
Summary: This study investigated Ecdysis-related neuropeptides (ERNs) in Amblyomma americanum and revealed their evolutionary relationships, protein properties, and functions. The study found that ERNs play important roles in various ecdysis-related functions and have higher expression levels in newly molted adults and synganglia. RNAi experiments suggested that some ERNs may be involved in immune-related gene expression regulation, protecting arthropods from microbial invasion during vulnerable periods.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Rohit Sharma, Duncan W. Cozens, Philip M. Armstrong, Douglas E. Brackney
Summary: The study shows that non-Ixodes tick species can effectively acquire POWV II by feeding on viremic hosts, maintain infection through molting, and successfully transmit the virus to naive hosts at comparable rates across all three species.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Delonta Price, Sara A. Benham, Holly D. Gaff, Zachary J. Bement, Christian Blaise, Hannah K. Cummins, Rebecca Ferrara, Joshua Moreno, Erika Parker, Anna Phan, Tori Rose, Sarah Azher, Delonta Price, David T. Gauthier
Summary: The Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum, is expanding northward along the US East Coast, establishing populations in Virginia with high prevalence of Rickettsia parkeri. Investigation into connectivity between sites colonized with A. maculatum suggests that higher prevalence sites may not be well-connected. This contrasts with genetic structure and connectivity observed in congeneric Amblyomma americanum populations.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Virology
Khalil Dachraoui, Ifhem Chelbi, Mourad Ben Said, Raja Ben Osman, Saifedine Cherni, Remi Charrel, Elyes Zhioua
Summary: The study investigated the transmission dynamics of Punique virus (PUNV) in Tunisia and found that Phlebotomus perniciosus is the main vector of PUNV. The research provided evidence of intensive circulation of PUNV in sandflies and hosts, reaching a peak during the autumn season.
Review
Microbiology
Elise A. A. Richardson, R. Michael Roe, Charles S. S. Apperson, Loganathan Ponnusamy
Summary: R. amblyommatis is a potentially pathogenic species of Rickettsia transmitted by ticks. The pathogenicity and diagnostic inhibition role of this species in illnesses caused by other Rickettsia species are still debated. High infection prevalence of R. amblyommatis has been recorded in tick populations worldwide. Understanding its role as a pathogen and inhibitor of infection compared to other tick-borne pathogens is important for public health efforts.
Article
Microbiology
Waqas Ahmed, Kundave V. Rajendran, Girish Neelakanta, Hameeda Sultana
Summary: This study provides evidence that a murine model can be successfully used to study the acquisition dynamics of Langat virus (LGTV), a tick-borne flavivirus. The virus was detected in blood, skin, and other tissues, including the brain, after intraperitoneal inoculation in mice. Both larval and nymphal ticks successfully acquired LGTV loads after feeding on the murine host. In addition, the study found that LGTV was transstadially transmitted from larval to nymphal stage. The down-regulation of the IsSMase gene in ticks by LGTV suggests its importance in the survival of the virus in the vector host.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Lindsey Bidder, Holly Gaff
Summary: Adult unfed Amblyomma americanum, Amblyomma maculatum, and Dermacentor variabilis ticks were placed in environmental containers in southeastern Virginia from May to August 2015. Analysis showed significant differences in survival rates among the three species across all field sites. A. maculatum had a higher risk of mortality compared to A. americanum and D. variabilis, and D. variabilis had a higher risk of mortality compared to A. americanum. There was also higher mortality in flooding-prone habitats compared to drier upland habitats. The study concluded that A. americanum was not negatively affected by increased flooding, while A. maculatum was more susceptible to mortality in both dry and flood-prone environments.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Joe Prullage, Christine Baker, Abdelmoneim Mansour, Scott McCall, David Young, Eric Tielemans
Summary: NexGard((R)) Combo is a novel topical endectoparasiticide product for cats, combining the purified enantiomer of afoxolaner with insecticidal and acaricidal properties with eprinomectin and praziquantel. The efficacy of this new formulation was found to be 99% curative and 92-100% preventive against infestations of Amblyomma americanum ticks in cats for at least one month.