title: GIS-facilitated spatial epidemiology of tick-borne diseases in coyotes (Canis latrans) in northern and coastal California.
abstract: Ixodes pacificus is the main tick vector for transmission of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi to large vertebrates in California. The present study was undertaken in I. pacificus-infested counties in California to examine spatial and temporal relationships among A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi-exposed coyotes with vegetation type and climate. The overall A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi seroprevalences were 39.5% (N=215) and 18.9% (N=148), respectively, with no association with sex. PCR for A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi was negative in all blood and kidney samples. Increased seroprevalence was a positive function of rainfall. Ehrlichial seropositivity was increased in blue-oak foothill pine, montane hardwood, and redwood vegetation regions, and decreased in coastal sagebrush and cropland. Increased exposure to B. burgdorferi occurred in blue oak woodland.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. jefoley@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Janet E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: Erica V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Queen
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sacks
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Foley
mesh_terms: D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002980:Climate; D046029:Coyotes / Q000469:parasitology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D018884:Ixodes / Q000382:microbiology*; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D017215:Satellite Communications; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial