1. Widespread distribution of ticks and selected tick-borne pathogens in Kentucky (USA).
- Author
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Lockwood BH, Stasiak I, Pfaff MA, Cleveland CA, and Yabsley MJ
- Subjects
- Animals, Animals, Wild microbiology, Animals, Wild parasitology, Borrelia genetics, Borrelia isolation & purification, Borrelia pathogenicity, Borrelia burgdorferi genetics, Borrelia burgdorferi isolation & purification, Deer microbiology, Deer parasitology, Dermacentor physiology, Humans, Ixodes physiology, Kentucky epidemiology, Lyme Disease epidemiology, Rickettsia genetics, Rickettsia isolation & purification, Rickettsia pathogenicity, Tick-Borne Diseases epidemiology, Tick-Borne Diseases microbiology, Tick-Borne Diseases prevention & control, Ursidae microbiology, Ursidae parasitology, Animal Distribution, Dermacentor microbiology, Ixodes microbiology, Lyme Disease veterinary, Tick Infestations microbiology, Tick-Borne Diseases veterinary
- Abstract
The geographical distribution of Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma maculatum ticks is poorly understood in Kentucky. We conducted a convenience survey of wildlife species (white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), elk (Cervus canadensis) and black bears (Ursus americanus)) for ticks from October 2015 to January 2017. We detected four tick species including Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor albipictus, I. scapularis and A. maculatum. Although the former two tick species were previously known to be widely distributed in Kentucky, we also found that I. scapularis and A. maculatum were also widespread. Because of the limited data available for pathogens from I. scapularis and A. maculatum, we tested them for Borrelia and Rickettsia spp. by polymerase chain reaction assays. Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Rickettsia parkeri were 11% and 3%, respectively. These data indicate that public health measures are important to prevent tick-borne diseases in Kentucky., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2018
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