J Med Entomol. 2016 Dec 27. pii: tjw213. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjw213. [Epub ahead of print]

Prevalence and Diversity of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Nymphal Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in Eastern National Parks.

Johnson TL1, Graham CB2, Boegler KA2, Cherry CC3,4,5, Maes SE2, Pilgard MA2, Hojgaard A2, Buttke DE3, Eisen RJ2.

Author information

• 1Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (uzj6@cdc.gov; hyb4@cdc.gov; kje5@cdc.gov; hyn8@cdc.gov; uzp7@cdc.gov; fth3@cdc.gov; dyn2@cdc.gov) uzj6@cdc.gov.
• 2Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (uzj6@cdc.gov; hyb4@cdc.gov; kje5@cdc.gov; hyn8@cdc.gov; uzp7@cdc.gov; fth3@cdc.gov; dyn2@cdc.gov).
• 3Biological Resources Division, Wildlife Health Branch and Office of Public Health, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Dr., Suite 200, Fort Collins, CO 80525 (imv5@cdc.gov; danielle_buttke@nps.gov).
• 4Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services.
• 5Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30329-4027.

Abstract

Tick-borne pathogens transmitted by Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae), also known as the deer tick or blacklegged tick, are increasing in incidence and geographic distribution in the United States.

We examined the risk of tick-borne disease exposure in 9 national parks across six Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic States and the District of Columbia in 2014 and 2015.

To assess the recreational risk to park visitors, we sampled for ticks along frequently used trails and calculated the density of I. scapularis nymphs (DON) and the density of infected nymphs (DIN).

We determined the nymphal infection prevalence of I. scapularis with a suite of tick-borne pathogens including Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia microti Ixodes scapularis nymphs were found in all national park units;

DON ranged from 0.40 to 13.73 nymphs per 100 m2 Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, was found at all sites where I. scapularis was documented;

DIN with B. burgdorferi ranged from 0.06 to 5.71 nymphs per 100 m2Borrelia miyamotoi and A. phagocytophilum were documented at 60% and 70% of the parks, respectively, while Ba. microti occurred at just 20% of the parks.

Ixodes scapularis is well established across much of the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic States, and our results are generally consistent with previous studies conducted near the areas we sampled.

Newly established I. scapularis populations were documented in two locations: Washington, D.C. (Rock Creek Park) and Greene County, Virginia (Shenandoah National Park).

This research demonstrates the potential risk of tick-borne pathogen exposure in national parks and can be used to educate park visitors about the importance of preventative actions to minimize tick exposure.

Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America 2016. This work is written by US Government employees and is in the public domain in the US.

Borrelia burgdorferi; Ixodes scapularis; recreational exposure; tick-borne disease

PMID: 28028138 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw213

[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Link to Abstract Here

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28028138