Publications by authors named "L Backus"
We conducted surveillance of mammals to investigate their associations with argasid ticks and tick-borne pathogens. During 2021, a total of 20 wild carnivores and 57 lagomorphs were sampled, and 39 argasid ticks belonging to two species were collected. All mammals and ticks were tested by molecular assays to detect Borrelia and Rickettsia infections.
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- Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a serious tick-borne disease that has become widespread in western North America, especially along the US-Mexico border.
- The brown dog tick plays a crucial role in transmitting RMSF between dogs and humans, and the disease's spread now shows epidemic patterns rather than sporadic occurrences.
- A new metapopulation model was developed to analyze RMSF dynamics, revealing that a significant delay occurs between pathogen introduction and epidemic transmission, with large dog populations being key to maintaining and spreading the disease.
Article Synopsis
- The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l., is a significant carrier of Rickettsia rickettsii, which causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever, prompting public health measures to control tick infestations around homes and on pets.
- Current control strategies primarily rely on acaricides, particularly synthetic pyrethroids, but many ticks have developed resistance to these chemicals, complicating prevention efforts.
- Researchers used advanced sequencing techniques to study genetic variations associated with acaricide resistance in different lineages of the tick, finding a specific genetic mutation tied to resistance that was commonly found in tropical lineage ticks across various locations in the US.
Article Synopsis
- - Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a serious, tick-borne disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, affecting primarily impoverished communities in the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico, with high fatality rates linked to poor diagnosis and treatment delays.
- - The disease is exacerbated by free-roaming dogs and widespread brown dog tick populations, with the U.S. facing a 5%-7% fatality rate while Mexico often exceeds 30%.
- - One Health professionals are working on prevention and management strategies, including public education, urgent treatment protocols, vaccine research, and new methods to control tick populations and improve management of dog populations.
Article Synopsis
- A two-decade epidemic of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in northern Mexico reached Tijuana in 2021, affecting marginalized areas with poor infrastructure.
- Dogs, the primary hosts for the tick that carries RMSF, were found in 76% of homes, with a significant number of them roaming freely, contributing to the spread of ticks among neighbors.
- The study revealed a high seroprevalence of rickettsial antibodies in dogs, indicating a risk to both canine and human populations, emphasizing the need for improved disease monitoring and management strategies.