Parasitism of a US traveler by a nymphal Amblyomma tapirellum Dunn, 1933 (Ixodida: Ixodidae) and review of exotic tick interceptions on humans in the United States.

Abstract

A resident of Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States removed an engorged nymphal tick after returning from travel to Costa Rica. The tick was identified by cox1 barcoding as Amblyomma tapirellum  Dunn, 1933, a Central American species whose immature stages are undescribed. This species is associated with wet, tropical forests, and most host records come from Baird's tapirs (Tapirus bairdii), though feeding on other mammalian orders and on humans has been observed. To date, no human pathogens have been detected in A. tapirellum, although very few specimens have been tested. The A. tapirellum reported here was screened for Rickettsia spp. via qPCR and additionally for bacterial pathogens via 16S amplicon sequencing, and no pathogens were detected. However, we report the presence of a Coxiella-like endosymbiont, common among -Amblyomma spp. We also briefly review 29 published records comprising 14 exotic hard tick species removed from US travelers returning from abroad, most commonly Amblyomma spp. from Africa. Due to the near-worldwide distribution of ticks and tick-borne disease as well as the growing frequency of international tourism, travelers are urged to prevent tick bites and physicians are encouraged to be mindful not only of native tick-borne diseases but potential exposure to exotic tick-borne diseases. There is also a need to improve identification resources for ixodids and for existing resources to be made more accessible.