Phenology of five tick species in the central Great Plains.

The states of Kansas and Oklahoma, in the central Great Plains, lie at the western periphery of the geographic distributions of several tick species. As the focus of most research on ticks and tick-borne diseases has been on Lyme disease which commonly occurs in areas to the north and east, the ticks of this region have seen little research attention. Here, we report on the phenology and activity patterns shown by tick species observed at 10 sites across the two states and explore factors associated with abundance of all and life specific individuals of the dominant species.

Seasonality of (Acari: Ixodidae) Activity and Prevalence of Infection with Tick-Borne Disease Agents in North Central Oklahoma.

is the most common tick infesting both animals and humans in the southern United States and transmits a variety of zoonotic agents. The rise in tick-borne diseases (TBD) globally imparts a need for more active surveillance of tick populations to accurately quantify prevalence and risk of tick-borne infectious organisms. To better understand TBD risk in north central Oklahoma, this study aimed to describe the current seasonal activity of in this region and investigate the seasonality of tick-borne infectious agents.

INFECTION IN THREE SLENDER-TAILED MEERKATS ().

is a protozoan parasite primarily transmitted by triatomine insects (Hemiptera: subfamily Reduviidae) and is the cause of Chagas disease (CD). This report describes three cases of CD in a mob of five slender-tailed meerkats () living in an outdoor exhibit at one zoological institution in Texas. The index case was a 9.

Geographic Distribution and Seasonality of Brown Dog Tick Lineages in the United States.

Two lineages of brown dog ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), Latreille [Acari: Ixodidae]) have been described in North America: temperate and tropical.

Survey on the Presence of Equine Tick-Borne Rickettsial Infections in Southcentral United States.

Although ticks are known vectors of pathogens across a range of hosts, there is limited research on emerging tick-borne diseases of horses in the United States. Tick surveys from other regions suggest Rickettsia spp. and Ehrlichia spp.

Diversity and geographic distribution of rickettsial agents identified in brown dog ticks from across the United States.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, or brown dog ticks, transmit a variety of pathogens of veterinary and public health importance globally. Pathogens vectored by brown dog ticks and identified in the United States include Babesia vogeli, Ehrlichia canis, and several spotted fever group Rickettsia spp. (SFGR).

and Other Vector-Borne Infections in Shelter Dogs in Two Counties of Oklahoma, United States.

is an emerging zoonotic vector-borne parasite infecting dogs and other mammals in the United States. In this study we evaluated shelter dogs in one northeastern and one southeastern county in Oklahoma for prevalence of exposure to . Dogs were tested for antibodies against using the Chagas STAT PAK assay and for in circulation by PCR.

Detection of Trypansoma cruzi in Kissing Bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) Collected Across Oklahoma.

Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease in humans and dogs in the Americas. Transmission predominantly occurs via the feces of infected kissing bugs (Hemiptera: family Reduviidae; subfamily Triatominae) contaminating bite site wounds or mucous membranes. To better understand Chagas disease entomologic risk in Oklahoma, kissing bugs collected from within the state were tested for T.

Molecular detection of Cercopithifilaria bainae in brown dog ticks collected from dogs across the United States.

Cercopithifilaria bainae is a filarioid nematode of dogs shown to use Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), the brown dog tick, as the vector.

Equine attachment site preferences and seasonality of common North American ticks: Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor albipictus, and Ixodes scapularis.

Background: Ticks are common on horses, but recent publications characterizing equine tick infestations in North America are lacking.

Methods: To further understand attachment site preferences of common ticks of horses, and to document the seasonality of equine tick infestation in northeastern Oklahoma, horses from eight farms were evaluated twice a month over a 1-year period. Each horse was systematically inspected beginning at the head and moving caudally to the tail.

Ticks infesting dogs and cats in North America: Biology, geographic distribution, and pathogen transmission.

A diverse array of ixodid and argasid ticks infest dogs and cats in North America, resulting in skin lesions, blood loss, and disease. The ticks most commonly found on pets in this region are hard ticks of the genera Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Ixodes, and Rhipicephalus, as well as the more recently established Haemaphysalis longicornis. Soft tick genera, especially Otobius and Ornithodoros, are also reported from pets in some regions.

Detection of Cercopithifilaria bainae infection in shelter dogs and ticks in Oklahoma, USA.

Background: Cercopithifilaria bainae is a filarioid nematode of dogs. Infection with the parasite was not reported in the USA until 2017, when a dog with skin lesions in Florida was diagnosed. Brown dog ticks, Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato), are the purported tick vectors, and are widespread in the USA.