title: An acarologic survey and Amblyomma americanum distribution map with implications for tularemia risk in Missouri.
abstract: 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. We collected ticks in 79 sites in southern Missouri during June 7-10, 2009, which yielded 1,047 adult and 3,585 nymphal Amblyomma americanum, 5 adult Amblyomma maculatum, 19 adult Dermacentor variabilis, and 5 nymphal Ixodes brunneus. Logistic regression analysis showed that areas posing an elevated risk of exposure to A. americanum nymphs or adults were more likely to be classified as forested than grassland, and the probability of being classified as elevated risk increased with increasing relative humidity during the month of June (30-year average). Overall accuracy of each of the two models was greater than 70% and showed that 20% and 30% of the state were classified as elevated risk for human exposure to nymphs and adults, respectively. We also found a significant positive association between heightened acarologic risk and counties reporting tularemia cases. Our study provides an updated distribution map for A. americanum in Missouri and suggests a wide-spread risk of human exposure to A. americanum and their associated pathogens in this region.
authors.affiliation: Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA. heidibrown@email.arizona.edu
authors.forename: Heidi E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Karen F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: MacMillan
authors.forename: Christine B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Sara M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Reese
authors.forename: Wm Steve
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Helterbrand
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blount
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Mead
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Eisen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003710:Demography; D017753:Ecosystem; D006801:Humans; D008923:Missouri / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013987:Ticks / Q000502:physiology*; D014406:Tularemia / Q000453:epidemiology*