DOCSLIB.ORG

Review of Exotic Tick Interceptions in New Zealand Since 1980

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Review of Exotic Tick Interceptions in New Zealand Since 1980 Review of exotic tick Over a 25-year period to January 2005, there have been 91 interceptions of exotic ticks entering New Zealand. interceptions in New Zealand The number of interceptions is increasing, and in 2004 since 1980 exotic ticks were detected on 12 occasions. Ticks are blood-feeding external parasites of mammals, birds and reptiles. Approximately 850 species have been described 45 14 worldwide(1)(2). There are two well established families: the Ixodidae 40 (hard ticks) and Argasidae (soft ticks). Both are important vectors 12 of disease-causing agents to humans and animals throughout the 35 10 tions world. Ticks transmit the widest variety of pathogens of any blood- s p g 30 sucking arthropod: bacteria, rickettsiae, protozoa and viruses. 8 and do 25 6 Tick interce The life cycle of ticks may be classified according to their location 20 Imported goods, passengers Imported goods, when they moult between life stages – either on the host (one-host 4 15 tick) or off the host (multi-host tick). All ticks intercepted in New 10 2 Zealand are three-host ticks, requiring a different host for every life 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 stage: larva, nymph and adult. Imported goods (NZ$, billions) Arriving passengers (*100,000) Imported dogs (*100) Tick interceptions There are three endemic tick species in New Zealand and six others Figure 1: Number of tick interceptions per year and the relationship between interceptions and imported goods, dogs and passengers that are shared with other countries; most are found on wild birds(3). The cattle tick Haemaphysalis longicornis is the only one Investigation (NCDI) accounting for 22 incursions(12)(13). of economic importance to livestock and agriculture(4). It feeds on Three exotic ticks discovered on animals entering New Zealand most domestic animals and is widespread in the North Island and through quarantine facilities (pre-border) were not investigated in areas of the northern part of the South Island. by NCDI, and neither were three reports from medical laboratories (Heath ACG, personal communication). Over the last 25 years An increasing number of tick interceptions are being investigated. annual exotic tick interceptions have steadily increased (see Exotic tick interceptions have been reviewed in 1995(5) and in Figure 1). 2000(6). This article reviews and records further interceptions and looks at entry pathways, country of origin and biosecurity measures Twelve different exotic tick species have been identified so far. The in response to confirmed incursions. most common species to arrive here are Ixodes holocyclus (24%) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (46%). The relative numbers of the seven Tick interceptions most commonly identified ticks are shown in Figure 2. All exotic Between 1955 and 1980 only seven tick interceptions were ticks intercepted so far have been ‘hard’ ticks. Interceptions of three reported(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). Between 1980 and December 2000 a further 63 species of Dermacentor (D albipictus, D variabilis, D silvarum) in were reported(6). From January 2000 until January 2005, there were 2004 on humans are of concern because the genus contains some 33 tick investigations conducted at the National Centre for Disease species that are troublesome for livestock(14). Dermacentor species Most ticks (57 of a total of 91, or 63%) arrived from Australia. 5 There were 18 instances of ticks arriving from Asia and the Pacific Others Ambylomma 7 triguttatum Islands including Hawaii. To date, no ticks have come from South 3 America. Figure 3 shows the number of interceptions per Haemaphysalis longicornis country or region of origin. 4 Most ticks arrived in this country attached to dogs (34 Ixodes ricinus of a total of 91, or 37%) or to humans or their clothing 4 Rhipicephalus sanguineus (34, or 37%). Fifteen arrived in luggage, containers or 42 Ixodes other routes not involving mammals (Figure 4). pacificus 4 Discussion Ixodes holocyclus Suggested causes for the increasing number of tick 22 investigations, interceptions and incursions include: • heightened awareness by the general public of biosecurity issues, resulting in more reporting; Figure 2: Tick interceptions by species page 7 Surveillance 32(3) 2005 Africa Unknown 2 Unknown 3 2 Other Europe animals 4 5 USA and Canada 8 Objects 15 Dogs 34 Asia and Hawaii 18 Australia 57 Humans 34 Figure 3: Country or region of origin Figure 4: Host or object on which tick enters • an increase in dog imports (Figure 1). Dogs, together with disease (endemic in the USA and parts of Europe)(24)(25). It has a humans, are the most important hosts carrying ticks into New worldwide distribution between the latitudes of 50° North and Zealand (Figure 4); 35° South, suggesting it could establish in the northern parts of • an increase in passenger arrivals, an important host or carrier of the North Island. The brown dog tick can also establish in heated ticks (Figure 4). In 2004 almost 4.2 million people arrived here, houses if suitable hosts are present(26)(27). On three occasions, in compared with 2.2 million in 1994. Forty percent came from 1979(7), 2000(28) and 2004(13), a New Zealand house became infested. Australia and the Pacific Islands(15); Each time the tick was eradicated by applying chemotherapeutic treatments to houses, household effects, surrounds and animals. • the value of imported goods increased by 77% in the last ten years (Figure 1), indicating an increased volume of goods Ixodes holocyclus, the Australian paralysis tick, is the second most imported in bulk or containers, the third most important frequently intercepted tick (Figure 2). It is usually found attached carrier of ticks into this country; 33% of goods arrived here to human travellers(6). Adult female ticks can induce paralysis in from Australia and 17% from the USA and Japan(15); humans and animals and are potentially deadly(7). Ixodes holocyclus • use of acaricides with less than full efficacy against ticks. is a coastal species in eastern Australia, which has, in parts, a climate similar to the north of the North Island of New Zealand, suggesting Haemaphysalis longicornis, the cattle tick, has been in New Zealand that I holocyclus has a limited ability to establish here. since about 1900(5). It can affect livestock productivity(4) and deer can be particularly affected by heavy infestations(16). Since 1980 All exotic ticks are notifiable under the Biosecurity Act 1993. there have been four re-introductions recorded, all potentially Most R sanguineus ticks are reported by veterinary practitioners. capable of introducing exotic tick-borne disease. The only known Members of the public also notify the Ministry of Agriculture tick-borne disease transmitted by H longicornis in New Zealand is and Forestry (MAF) after finding ticks attached to a person or in the mildly pathogenic Theileria orientalis/buffeli. The absence of luggage from overseas destinations. Q-fever (Coxiella burnetii) in New Zealand may be because of the The effectiveness of existing biosecurity measures is constantly limited vector potential of H longicornis(17)(18). monitored and reviewed. MAF recently introduced measures in Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the brown dog tick, is the most response to the increasing incidence of interceptions. All cats and commonly intercepted exotic tick and most have come from dogs arriving in New Zealand from countries that do not require Australia. It is a vector for a wide range of infectious agents, quarantine (Australia, United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Hawaii particularly those affecting dogs, such as Babesia canis, B gibsoni and Singapore) are examined closely for ticks on arrival(29). All and Ehrlichia canis(19)(20)(21). The tick-borne diseases B canis and cats and dogs in quarantine receive acaricide treatment within the B gibsoni are endemic in Australia(22). There is no evidence of first three days of arrival and are examined by a veterinarian prior E canis in Australia(23). Rhipicephalus sanguineus also has the to release. Only one interception in 2004 was the result of a tick potential to transmit the zoonotic Borrelia burgdorferi or Lyme attached to an imported animal post-clearance(13). page 8 Surveillance 32(3) 2005 References (18) Heath A. Vector competence of Haemaphysalis longicornis with particular reference to blood parasites. Surveillance 29(4),12-4, 2002. (1) Furman D, Loomis E. The ticks of California. University of California (19) Skotarczak B, Adamska M, Supron M. Blood DNA analysis for Ehrlichia Publications, Bulletin of the California Insect Survey, University of California (Anaplasma) phagocytophila and Babesia spp. of dogs from Northern Poland. Press, California, 1984. Acta Veterinaria Brno 73, 347-51, 2004. (2) Varma M. Ticks and mites (Acari). In: Lane R, Crosskey R (eds). Medical (20) Venzal JM, Castro O, Cabrera PA, Souza CG, de Guglielmone AA. Ticks of Insects and Arachnids. Pp 597-658. Chapman & Hall, London, 1993. medical and veterinary importance in Uruguay. Entomologia y Vectores 10, (3) McKenna PB. The tick fauna of New Zealand. Surveillance 23(4), 27, 1996. 635-50, 2003. (4) Heath ACG. Ectoparasites of livestock in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal (21) Helan JA, Haddadzadeh H, Shirani D, Khazrainia P, Mostofi S. Histopathologic, of Zoology 21, 23-38, 1994. hematologic and clinical study on canine babesiosis. Journal of the Faculty of (5) Fairley R, Heath A. Exotic ticks intercepted in New Zealand since 1980. Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, 56(3), e93-e96, 2001. Surveillance 24(1), 21-2, 1997. (22) Jefferies R, Ryan, UM, Muhlnickel CJ, Irwin PJ. Two species of canine (6) Heath ACG. Exotic tick interceptions 1980-2000. Surveillance 28(4), Babesia in Australia: detection and characterization by PCR. Journal of 13-5, 2001. Parasitology 89, 409-12, 2003. (7) Heath ACG, McColl HP, Tenquist JD. Accidental importation of the brown (23) Mason RJ, Lee JM, Curran JM, Moss A, van der Heide B, Daniels PW.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Meeting the Challenge of Tick-Borne Disease Control a Proposal For
    Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 10 (2019) 213–218 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ttbdis Letters to the Editor Meeting the challenge of tick-borne disease control: A proposal for 1000 Ixodes genomes T 1. Introduction reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018) each year represent only about 10% of actual cases (CDC; Hinckley et al., At the ‘One Health’ 9th Tick and Tick-borne Pathogen Conference 2014; Nelson et al., 2015). In Europe, roughly 85,000 LD cases are and 1st Asia Pacific Rickettsia Conference (TTP9-APRC1; http://www. reported annually, although actual case numbers are unknown ttp9-aprc1.com), 27 August–1 September 2017 in Cairns, Australia, (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), 2012). members of the tick and tick-borne disease (TBD) research communities Recent studies are also shedding light on the transmission of human and assembled to discuss a high priority research agenda. Diseases trans- animal pathogens by Australian ticks and the role of Ixodes holocyclus, mitted by hard ticks (subphylum Chelicerata; subclass Acari; family as a vector (reviewed in Graves and Stenos, 2017; Greay et al., 2018). Ixodidae) have substantial impacts on public health and are on the rise Options to control hard ticks and the pathogens they transmit are globally due to human population growth and change in geographic limited. Human vaccines are not available, except against the tick- ranges of tick vectors (de la Fuente et al., 2016). The genus Ixodes is a borne encephalitis virus (Heinz and Stiasny, 2012).
    [Show full text]
  • Australian Paralysis Tick (Ixodes Holocyclus)
    Australian Paralysis Tick (Ixodes holocyclus) By Dr Janette O’Keefe BscBVMS The Australian paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus ) is a very dangerous parasite that affects dogs in Australia; specifically on the east coast from North Queensland to Northern Victoria. The main area of distribution is a narrow area running, (roughly confined to a 20-kilometre band), along the coastal areas as indicated in Figure 1 . In northern parts of Australia, ticks can be found all year around. In the cooler southern areas, tick season is generally from spring through to late autumn (Figure 2) . Fig: 2 – Seasonal distribution of 3 stages of Ixodes holocyclus The Life Cycle of the Paralysis Tick The natural hosts of Ixodes holocyclus include bandicoots, wallabies, kangaroos, and other marsupials – basically immune to the effects of the tick's toxin. Other species affected are human, cattle, sheep, horses, dogs, cats, poultry, and other animals. The Ixodes tick goes through the three stages of Larva (6 legs) , Nymph (8 legs) , and Adult (8 legs) , attaching to and feeding on one host during each stage, then falling off and moulting before re-attaching to the same or more often a different host for the next stage. If no host is available, the adult can survive up to 77 days without feeding. The Female Adult feeds and engorges for 6 (cool weather) to 21 days Fig: 1 – distribution of Ixodes holocyclus (warmer weather), before she drops to the ground to lay eggs, thus beginning the cycle again. It is important to note that the adult female does not inject detectable amounts of toxin until the 3rd day of attachment to the host , with peak amounts being injected on days 5 and 6.
    [Show full text]
  • Tick Paralysis
    TICK PARALYSIS BASICS OVERVIEW “Lower motor neuron paralysis” is the loss of voluntary movement caused by disease of the nerves that connect the spinal cord and muscles “Tick paralysis” is a lower motor neuron paralysis, characterized by relaxed muscles or muscles without tone (known as “flaccid paralysis”); caused by nerve toxins found in the saliva of females of certain tick species Also known as “tick-bite paralysis” GENETICS No genetic basis SIGNALMENT/DESCRIPTION of ANIMAL Species United States—dogs; cats appear to be resistant Australia—dogs and cats SIGNS/OBSERVED CHANGES in the ANIMAL Pet walked in a wooded area approximately 1 week before onset of signs Onset—gradual; starts with unsteadiness and weakness in the rear legs Disease Caused by a Non-Ixodes Tick Once nervous system signs appear, rapidly ascending (that is, moving from rear legs to front legs and then head) lower motor neuron weakness (known as “paresis”) to paralysis Patient becomes recumbent in 1 to 3 days, with decreased reflexes (known as “hyporeflexia”) to lack of reflexes (known as “areflexia”) and decreased muscle tone (known as “hypotonia”) to lack of muscle tone (known as “atonia”) Pain sensation is preserved Cranial nerve dysfunction—not a prominent feature; may note facial weakness and reduced jaw tone; sometimes a change in voice (known as “dysphonia”) and difficulty swallowing (known as “dysphagia”) may be seen early in the course of disease; the “cranial nerves” are nerves that originate in the brain and go to various structures of the head
    [Show full text]
  • The Ecology of New Constituents of the Tick Virome and Their Relevance to Public Health
    viruses Review The Ecology of New Constituents of the Tick Virome and Their Relevance to Public Health Kurt J. Vandegrift 1 and Amit Kapoor 2,3,* 1 The Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; [email protected] 2 Center for Vaccines and Immunity, Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA 3 Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 21 March 2019; Accepted: 29 May 2019; Published: 7 June 2019 Abstract: Ticks are vectors of several pathogens that can be transmitted to humans and their geographic ranges are expanding. The exposure of ticks to new hosts in a rapidly changing environment is likely to further increase the prevalence and diversity of tick-borne diseases. Although ticks are known to transmit bacteria and viruses, most studies of tick-borne disease have focused upon Lyme disease, which is caused by infection with Borrelia burgdorferi. Until recently, ticks were considered as the vectors of a few viruses that can infect humans and animals, such as Powassan, Tick-Borne Encephalitis and Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever viruses. Interestingly, however, several new studies undertaken to reveal the etiology of unknown human febrile illnesses, or to describe the virome of ticks collected in different countries, have uncovered a plethora of novel viruses in ticks. Here, we compared the virome compositions of ticks from different countries and our analysis indicates that the global tick virome is dominated by RNA viruses. Comparative phylogenetic analyses of tick viruses from these different countries reveals distinct geographical clustering of the new tick viruses.
    [Show full text]
  • Tick Toxicosis in North America
    Tick Toxicosis in North America Patrick F. Mongan, MD Gainesville, Florida This is a case presentation and review of an uncommon disor­ der, tick toxicosis. The history, epidemiology, pathophysiol­ ogy, and treatment are discussed. This disorder was men­ tioned in diaries from the early 1800s and has been reported in 18 states and the District of Columbia. A review of 70 cases reveals that the typical patient is a female child who develops leg weakness, irritability, or clumsiness. The exact site at which the toxin induces the paralysis is unknown. Removal of the tick usually reverses the paralysis within hours. Confusing tick toxicosis with other disorders may occur, and death has resulted. This article will remind physicians to consider tick toxicosis when seeing patients with acute ataxia or ascending paralysis and to, perhaps, prevent death from an easily treata­ ble disorder. Tick toxicosis, also known as tick paralysis, is a mother because of numbness in the arms and legs. disorder that has been recognized since the 1800s.1 The prior evening the mother noticed her daughter Most cases have occurred in British Columbia, had a “ dazed look.” The next morning the child Canada, and the northwest or southeast United fell several times when getting out of bed. As she States.2"5 Very little is written about this disorder came down the stairs her knees “buckled” and in common pediatric texts,6"9 though most cases she had difficulty maintaining her balance. Shortly have occurred in children. Several texts only thereafter, she complained of her legs and feet mention the problem as part of the differential feeling “ asleep.” This progressed to involve her diagnosis in patients with acute ataxia,7 or acute arms and hands.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Humans in the Importation of Ticks to New Zealand
    THE NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL JOURNAL Journal of the New Zealand Medical Association The role of humans in the importation of ticks to New Zealand: a threat to public health and biosecurity Allen C G Heath, Scott Hardwick Abstract Humans coming into New Zealand occasionally, and unwittingly, bring exotic ticks with them, either attached to their bodies or with luggage. Of the 172 available records for tick interception at New Zealand’s border, half can be attributed to human agency. Here, together with an outline of tick biology and ecology, we present evidence of at least 17 species of ticks being brought in by humans, with Australia, North America and Asia the most frequent countries of origin. Risks posed by some of the nine species of ticks already in New Zealand are briefly examined. Sites of attachment of ticks and associated symptoms where these have been recorded are presented. Diseases transmitted by ticks and most likely to be encountered by travellers are briefly discussed together with the most practical method of tick removal. A plea is made for practitioners to increase their awareness of the risks to New Zealand’s biosecurity and public health posed by ticks and to ensure that as many as possible of these unwelcome ‘souvenirs’ are collected and passed on for identification. The world tick fauna comprises about 900 species of which New Zealand has 11 confirmed. 1 Four of these are endemic (kiwi tick, Ixodes anatis ; tuatara tick, Amblyomma (formerly Aponomma ) sphenodonti and the cormorant tick, I. jacksoni ), as well as a new species of Carios from a native bat, and the others are either exotic (Carios (formerly Ornithodoros ) capensis , Haemaphysalis longicornis, Ixodes amersoni ) or shared with Australia ( Ixodes eudyptidis ), or distributed throughout the sub-Antarctic faunal region ( I.
    [Show full text]
  • Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma Species in Australian Human-Biting Ticks
    RESEARCH ARTICLE Bacterial Profiling Reveals Novel “Ca. Neoehrlichia”, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma Species in Australian Human-Biting Ticks Alexander W. Gofton1*, Stephen Doggett2, Andrew Ratchford3, Charlotte L. Oskam1, Andrea Paparini1, Una Ryan1, Peter Irwin1* 1 Vector and Water-borne Pathogen Research Group, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia, 2 Department of Medical Entomology, Pathology West and Institute for Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia, 3 Emergency Department, Mona Vale Hospital, New South Wales, Australia * [email protected] (AWG); [email protected] (PI) Abstract OPEN ACCESS In Australia, a conclusive aetiology of Lyme disease-like illness in human patients remains Citation: Gofton AW, Doggett S, Ratchford A, Oskam elusive, despite growing numbers of people presenting with symptoms attributed to tick CL, Paparini A, Ryan U, et al. (2015) Bacterial bites. In the present study, we surveyed the microbial communities harboured by human-bit- Profiling Reveals Novel “Ca. Neoehrlichia”, Ehrlichia, ing ticks from across Australia to identify bacteria that may contribute to this syndrome. and Anaplasma Species in Australian Human-Biting Ticks. PLoS ONE 10(12): e0145449. doi:10.1371/ Universal PCR primers were used to amplify the V1-2 hyper-variable region of bacterial journal.pone.0145449 16S rRNA genes in DNA samples from individual Ixodes holocyclus (n = 279), Amblyomma Editor: Bradley S. Schneider, Metabiota, UNITED triguttatum (n = 167), Haemaphysalis bancrofti (n = 7), and H. longicornis (n = 7) ticks. STATES The 16S amplicons were sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq platform and analysed in Received: October 12, 2015 USEARCH, QIIME, and BLAST to assign genus and species-level taxonomies.
    [Show full text]
  • First Evidence of Ehrlichia Minasensis Infection in Horses from Brazil
    pathogens Article First Evidence of Ehrlichia minasensis Infection in Horses from Brazil Lívia S. Muraro 1, Aneliza de O. Souza 2, Tamyres N. S. Leite 2, Stefhano L. Cândido 3, Andréia L. T. Melo 4, Hugo S. Toma 5 , Mariana B. Carvalho 4, Valéria Dutra 3, Luciano Nakazato 3, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz 6 and Daniel M. de Aguiar 1,* 1 Laboratory of Virology and Rickettsial Infections, Veterinary Hospital, Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), Av. Fernando Correa da Costa 2367, Cuiabá 78090-900, Brazil; [email protected] 2 Veterinary Clinical Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Clinics, University of Cuiabá (UNIC), Av. Manoel José de Arruda 3100, Cuiabá 78065-900, Brazil; [email protected] (A.d.O.S.); [email protected] (T.N.S.L.) 3 Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Veterinary Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), Av. Fernando Correa da Costa 2367, Cuiabá 78090-900, Brazil; [email protected] (S.L.C.); [email protected] (V.D.); [email protected] (L.N.) 4 Veterinary of Clinical, Veterinary Medicine College, University of Cuiabá (UNIC), Av. Manoel José de Arruda 3100, Cuiabá 78065-900, Brazil; [email protected] (A.L.T.M.); [email protected] (M.B.C.) 5 Veterinary Medicine Department, Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Campus Universitário, Mailbox 3037, Lavras 37200-000, Brazil; hugo.toma@ufla.br 6 Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Citation: Muraro, L.S.; Souza, A.d.O.; Leite, T.N.S.; Cândido, S.L.; Melo, Abstract: The genus Ehrlichia includes tick-borne bacterial pathogens affecting humans, domestic and A.L.T.; Toma, H.S.; Carvalho, M.B.; wild mammals.
    [Show full text]
  • Biotic Factors Influence Microbiota of Nymph Ticks from Vegetation In
    pathogens Article Biotic Factors Influence Microbiota of Nymph Ticks from Vegetation in Sydney, Australia Shona Chandra and Jan Šlapeta * Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 19 June 2020; Accepted: 10 July 2020; Published: 13 July 2020 Abstract: Ticks are haematophagous ectoparasites of medical and veterinary significance due to their excellent vector capacity. Modern sequencing techniques enabled the rapid sequencing of bacterial pathogens and symbionts. This study’s aims were two-fold; to determine the nymph diversity in Sydney, and to determine whether external biotic factors affect the microbiota. Tick DNA was isolated, and the molecular identity was determined for nymphs at the cox1 level. The tick DNA was subjected to high throughput DNA sequencing to determine the bacterial profile and the impact of biotic factors on the microbiota. Four nymph tick species were recovered from Sydney, NSW: Haemaphysalis bancrofti, Ixodes holocyclus, Ixodes trichosuri and Ixodes tasmani. Biotic factors, notably tick species and geography, were found to have a significance influence on the microbiota. The microbial analyses revealed that Sydney ticks display a core microbiota. The dominating endosymbionts among all tick species were Candidatus Midichloria sp. Ixholo1 and Candidatus Midichloria sp. Ixholo2. A novel Candidatus Midichloria sp. OTU_2090 was only found in I. holocyclus ticks (nymph: 96.3%, adult: 75.6%). Candidatus Neoehrlichia australis and Candidatus Neoehrlichia arcana was recovered from I. holocyclus and one I. trichosuri nymph ticks. Borrelia spp. was absent from all ticks. This study has shown that nymph and adult ticks carry different bacteria, and a tick bite in Sydney, Australia will result in different bacterial transfer depending on tick life stage, tick species and geography.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 126 – Tickborne Illnesses
    CrackCast Show Notes – Tickborne illnesses – December 2017 www.canadiem.org/crackcast Chapter 126 – Tickborne illnesses Episode overview 1) For each of the following illnesses, list the name of the pathogen , the most common tick vector, and the approximate geographic distribution of illness: a. Lyme Disease b. Tularemia c. RMSF d. Q-Fever e. Erlichiosis f. Babesiosis g. Colorado Tick Fever h. Tick Paralysis 2) Describe the difference between the Argasid Ticks and the Ixodid ticks as it relates to disease transmission. Which one tick-borne illness is transmitted by an Argasid tick? 3) Describe the 3 phases of Lyme Disease, and give a strategy for diagnosis. List 4 problems with serology testing in Lyme disease 4) Describe erythema migrans. a. How quickly does it spread? b. List 8 ddx for erythema migrans. 5) Describe the treatment of Early Lyme disease, Early Disseminated Infection and Late Infection 6) What is the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction? How is it treated? 7) Describe the clinical presentation of tick relapsing fever. How is it treated? 8) What animals are a source of Tularemia? What is the infecting organism? How does it present clinically? How is it treated? 9) Describe the clinical presentation of RMSF. What are 3 non-dermatologic manifestations? How is it diagnosed and treated? 10) What is the weakness pattern of tick paralysis? What is the pathogenesis? How is it treated? Wisecracks 1) How do you remove a tick? 2) What can cause a false positive for lyme disease? 3) What is STARI? Rosen’s In Perspective: None this time! CrackCast
    [Show full text]
  • No Evidence for Widespread Babesia Microti Transmission in Australia
    Faddy Helen (Orcid ID: 0000-0002-3446-8248) Viennet Elvina (Orcid ID: 0000-0002-1418-1426) No evidence for widespread Babesia microti transmission in Australia Helen M Faddy1,2, Kelly M Rooks1, Peter J Irwin3, Elvina Viennet1, Andrea Paparini3, Clive R Seed4, Susan L Stramer5, Robert J Harley6, Hiu-Tat Chan7, Peta M Dennington8, Robert LP Flower1 1Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 2School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 3Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia 4Clinical Services and Research, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Perth, Western Australia, Australia 5American Red Cross Scientific Affairs, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA 6Clinical Services and Research, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 7Clinical Services and Research, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 8Clinical Services and Research, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Corresponding author: Helen Faddy; 44 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia, 4059; TEL: +617 3838 9262 FAX: +617 3838 9428; [email protected] Source of support: Australian governments fund the Australian Red Cross Blood Service to provide blood, blood products and services to the Australian community. Conflict of interest: All authors report no conflicts of interest. This is the author manuscript accepted for publication and has undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as doi: 10.1111/trf.15336 This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Running title: Babesia microti prevalence in Australia Word count (excluding abstract, references and illustrations): 3668 This article is protected by copyright.
    [Show full text]
  • Climatic Suitability of the Eastern Paralysis Tick, Ixodes Holocyclus, and Its Likely Geographic Distribution in the Year 2050 Ram K
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Climatic suitability of the eastern paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus, and its likely geographic distribution in the year 2050 Ram K. Raghavan1,2*, Z. Koestel1, R. Ierardi1,3, A. Townsend Peterson4 & Marlon E. Cobos4 The eastern paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus is one of two ticks that cause potentially fatal tick paralysis in Australia, and yet information on the full extent of its present or potential future spatial distribution is not known. Occurrence data for this tick species collected over the past two decades, and gridded environmental variables at 1 km2 resolution representing climate conditions, were used to derive correlative ecological niche models to predict the current and future potential distribution. Several hundreds of candidate models were constructed with varying combinations of model parameters, and the best-ftting model was chosen based on statistical signifcance, omission rate, and Akaike Information Criterion (AICc). The best-ftting model matches the currently known distribution but also extends through most of the coastal areas in the south, and up to the Kimbolton peninsula in Western Australia in the north. Highly suitable areas are present around south of Perth, extending towards Albany, Western Australia. Most areas in Tasmania, where the species is not currently present, are also highly suitable. Future spatial distribution of this tick in the year 2050 indicates moderate increase in climatic suitability from the present-day prediction but noticeably also moderate to low loss of climatically suitable areas elsewhere. Ixodes holocyclus, the eastern paralysis tick of Australia, is a leading veterinarily and medically signifcant tick species implicated in the potentially fatal tick paralysis to humans, feline and canine hosts1, 2.
    [Show full text]