Transgene expression in tick cells using Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

Ticks transmit infectious agents to humans and other animals. Genetic manipulation of vectors like ticks could enhance the development of alternative disease control strategies. Transgene expression using the phytopathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens has been shown to promote the genetic modification of non-plant cells.

Survival of host blood proteins in Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks: a time course study.

Ixodes scapularis Say, 1821 larvae were fed on mice and allowed to molt under laboratory conditions. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based proteomic study was conducted to identify the type of mammalian proteins present in the derived nymphal ticks at different time intervals after molting. Albumin was present for 85 d; transferrin was present for 29 d; and, more importantly, hemoglobin remained detectable for up to 309 d postmolting.

Saliva, salivary gland, and hemolymph collection from Ixodes scapularis ticks.

Ticks are found worldwide and afflict humans with many tick-borne illnesses. Ticks are vectors for pathogens that cause Lyme disease and tick-borne relapsing fever (Borrelia spp.), Rocky Mountain Spotted fever (Rickettsia rickettsii), ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia chaffeensis and E.

Elimination of Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in rodent reservoirs and Ixodes scapularis ticks using a doxycycline hyclate-laden bait.

A field trial was conducted in a Lyme disease-endemic area of New Jersey to determine the efficacy of a doxycyline hyclate rodent bait to prophylactically protect and cure small-mammal reservoirs and reduce infection rates in questing Ixodes scapularis ticks for Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The doxycycline-laden bait was formulated at a concentration of 500 mg/kg and delivered during the immature tick feeding season in rodent-targeted bait boxes. The percentage of infected small mammals recovered from treated areas after 2 years of treatment was reduced by 86.

Transmission efficiency of Francisella tularensis by adult american dog ticks (Acari: Ixodidae).

The American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Say) (Acari: Ixodidae), has been implicated as a potential bridging vector to humans of Francisella tularensis, the etiological agent of tularemia. Since the initial studies evaluating vector competency of D. variabilis were conducted, F.

Coxiella symbionts in the Cayenne tick Amblyomma cajennense.

Members of the Coxiella genus are intracellular bacteria that can infect a variety of animals including humans. A symbiotic Coxiella was recently described in Amblyomma americanum ticks in the Northern Hemisphere with no further investigations of other Amblyomma species in other geographic regions. These ixodid ticks represent a group of important vectors for human infectious agents.

Functional analysis of the Borrelia burgdorferi bba64 gene product in murine infection via tick infestation.

Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis, is transmitted to humans from the bite of Ixodes spp. ticks. During the borrelial tick-to-mammal life cycle, B.

An acarologic survey and Amblyomma americanum distribution map with implications for tularemia risk in Missouri.

In the United States, tickborne diseases occur focally. Missouri represents a major focus of several tickborne diseases that includes spotted fever rickettsiosis, tularemia, and ehrlichiosis. Our study sought to determine the potential risk of human exposure to human-biting vector ticks in this area.

Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi DNA in tick feces provides evidence for organism shedding during vector feeding.

Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, is transmitted to a susceptible host by Ixodes spp. tick bites. However, there is uncertainty whether B.

Transmission dynamics of Francisella tularensis subspecies and clades by nymphal Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae).

In the United States, the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Say) is considered an important biological vector of Francisella tularensis, the etiologic agent of tularemia. In this study, we evaluated the vector efficiency of nymphal D. variabilis infected as larvae with differing clades and subspecies (A1b, A2, and type B) of F.

The bba64 gene of Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease agent, is critical for mammalian infection via tick bite transmission.

The spirochetal agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted by bites of Ixodes ticks to mammalian reservoir hosts and humans. The mechanism(s) by which the organism is trafficked from vector to host is poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that a B.

A borreliacidal factor in Amblyomma americanum saliva is associated with phospholipase A2 activity.

Previous work in our laboratory described the in vitro killing of Borrelia burgdorferi when co-cultured with saliva from adult Amblyomma americanum. Borreliacidal activity was not evident using Ixodes scapularis saliva. Mixing trypsin with saliva eliminated the borreliacidal activity of A.

Multiple Francisella tularensis subspecies and clades, tularemia outbreak, Utah.

In July 2007, a deer fly-associated outbreak of tularemia occurred in Utah. Human infections were caused by 2 clades (A1 and A2) of Francisella tularensis subsp. tularensis.

Ability of 4-poster passive topical treatment devices for deer to sustain low population levels of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) after integrated tick management in a residential landscape.

In a recent study, the combined use of 4-Posters and Maxforce TMS bait boxes along with a barrier application of deltamethrin resulted in accelerated control of Ixodes scapularis Say by sequentially attacking each postembryonic life stage. We report the results of a follow-up study to test the ability of 4-Posters used alone to sustain the high levels of control achieved through the integrated tick management (ITM) approach after withdrawal of the bait boxes. In the first year after withdrawal, we observed declines in the level of control of larvae on small mammals, as well as of numbers of host-seeking larvae in the treatment area.

Borrelia bissettii isolates induce pathology in a murine model of disease.

The spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi is a tick-borne pathogen that causes Lyme disease. Although B. burgdorferi sensu lato is a diverse group of bacteria, only three genospecies, B.

A sustained-release formulation of doxycycline hyclate (Atridox) prevents simultaneous infection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted by tick bite.

Current prophylaxis for infected tick bites consists of personal protective measures directed towards ticks. This study compared the efficacy of a single oral dose of doxycycline with that of a single injection of sustained-release doxycycline in a model of Lyme borreliosis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection. Dosages of doxycycline were equilibrated based on previously determined peak plasma levels in mice [oral, 2.

Biocidal activity of three wood essential oils against Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae), Xenopsylla cheopis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae), and Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae).

The biocidal activity of three steam distilled wood essential oils-incense cedar, Calocedrus decurrens (Torr.) Florin; Port-Orford-cedar, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (A. Murr.

Repellent activity of fractioned compounds from Chamaecyparis nootkatensis essential oil against nymphal Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae).

Preliminary repellent activity of 14 natural products isolated from essential oil components extracted from the heartwood of Alaska yellow cedar, Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (D. Don) Spach., were evaluated against nymphal Ixodes scapularis Say in a laboratory bioassay and compared with technical grade N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (deet).

Serologic evidence of west nile virus infection in free-ranging mammals, Slidell, Louisiana, 2002.

After an outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) infections in Slidell, Louisiana, in 2002, we detected neutralizing antibodies to WNV in 13 of 120 mammals, representing five of six species sampled. Seroprevalence was measured in opossum, Didelphis virginiana (75%, n = 8), raccoons, Procyon lotor (60%, n = 5), black rats, Rattus rattus (6%, n = 36), hispid cotton rats, Sigmodon hispidus (4%, n = 24), and eastern gray squirrels, Sciurus carolinensis (2%, n = 43).