Prevalence of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Host-Seeking Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) and Odocoileus virginianus (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) in Florida.
Amblyomma americanum (L.), the lone star tick, is an aggressive tick that is expanding its geographic range within the United States. This tick is the vector for the human and veterinary pathogens Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii and is associated with other microbes of unspecified pathogenicity including Rickettsia amblyommii, Panola Mountain Ehrlichia, and Borrelia lonestari In Florida, there has been sparse contemporary data on the prevalence of these organisms in host-seeking lone star ticks. To determine the prevalence of this tick and associated microbes in North Central Florida state parks, ∼1,500 lone star tick specimens were collected between 2010 and 2012 analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequencing. Additionally, 393 white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmerman), samples were analyzed for pathogen prevalence using molecular methods and serology. In lone star ticks, 14.6, 15.6, and 57.1% were positive for E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, and Rickettsia spp. DNA, respectively. Panola Mountain Ehrlichia or B. lonestari DNA were each detected in nearly 2% of tick specimens. In white-tailed deer, 7.3% were PCR positive for E. chaffeensis, 6.0% for E. ewingii, and 3.2% for rickettsial species. Approximately 45% of white-tailed deer specimens had antibodies to Ehrlichia spp., and <1% had antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi In summary, E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, and spotted fever group rickettsia are highly prevalent in host-seeking lone star ticks and in white-tailed deer in Florida. The molecular and serological evidence of these microbes underscore their zoonotic potential in this region.
Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608 (saylerk@ufl.edu; skbeatty@ufl.edu; cboyce26@ufl.edu; rickalleman3@gmail.com), saylerk@ufl.edu.|Department of Infectious Disease and Pathology, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608 (barbet@ufl.edu).
Katherine A
KA
Sayler
Department of Microbiology, Midwestern University Glendale, 19555 N 59th Ave., Glendale, AZ 85308 (adloftis@gmail.com), and.
Amanda D
AD
Loftis
Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608 (saylerk@ufl.edu; skbeatty@ufl.edu; cboyce26@ufl.edu; rickalleman3@gmail.com).
Sarah K
SK
Beatty
Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608 (saylerk@ufl.edu; skbeatty@ufl.edu; cboyce26@ufl.edu; rickalleman3@gmail.com).
Carisa L
CL
Boyce
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, 1105 SW Williston Rd., Gainesville, FL 32601 (elina.garrison@myfwc.com; bambi.clemons@myfwc.com; mark.cunningham@myfwc.com).
Elina
E
Garrison
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, 1105 SW Williston Rd., Gainesville, FL 32601 (elina.garrison@myfwc.com; bambi.clemons@myfwc.com; mark.cunningham@myfwc.com).
Bambi
B
Clemons
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, 1105 SW Williston Rd., Gainesville, FL 32601 (elina.garrison@myfwc.com; bambi.clemons@myfwc.com; mark.cunningham@myfwc.com).
Mark
M
Cunningham
Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608 (saylerk@ufl.edu; skbeatty@ufl.edu; cboyce26@ufl.edu; rickalleman3@gmail.com).
Arthur R
AR
Alleman
Department of Infectious Disease and Pathology, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608 (barbet@ufl.edu).
Anthony F
AF
Barbet
D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D001898:Borrelia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001899:Borrelia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003670:Deer; D004536:Ehrlichia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D009758:Nymph / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence
Amblyomma americanum; Ehrlichia; Florida; lone star tick; white-tailed deer