Journal of Parasitology最新文献

{"title":"DOES TRYPANOSOMA EVANSI HAVE THE MAXICIRCLE GENE, OR CAN TRYPANOSOMA EQUIPERDUM BE ISOLATED FROM BOVINES?","authors":"Didik T Subekti, Fitrine Ekawasti, Zul Azmi, Ichwan Yuniarto, Sulinawati Fong, Yudha Fahrimal","doi":"10.1645/21-95","DOIUrl":"10.1645/21-95","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Identifying a trypanosome isolate is generally based on morphological observations and molecular identification of one of the genes, usually internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2 of ribosomal DNA (ITS1 rDNA, ITS2 rDNA), a variant surface glycoprotein of Rode Trypanozoon antigen type 1.2 (VSG RoTat 1.2), or expression site-associated genes (ESAG). However, this identification is insufficient because these genes cannot distinguish organisms in the subgenus Trypanozoon to the species level. A molecular approach using at least 5 sets of primers is needed, namely, ITS1, ESAG6/7, MINI, RoTat 1.2, and ND5, for stratified selection to obtain more targeted and conclusive results. Using this method to analyze isolates from Indonesia provided unexpected results: 9 isolates previously identified as Trypanozoon were found to have the kDNA maxicircle gene. Nine isolates of Trypanosoma equiperdum were identified for the first time in Indonesia, isolated from bovine (cattle and buffaloes). The identification of T. equiperdum in the 9 isolates was confirmed by analysis of the nucleotide sequence identity of the nad5-kDNA maxicircle gene.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10658868/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10112026","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"REVISION OF SANGUINICOLA PLEHN, 1905 WITH REDESCRIPTION OF SANGUINICOLA VOLGENSIS (RAŠÍN, 1929) MCINTOSH, 1934, DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES, PROPOSAL OF A NEW GENUS, AND PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS.","authors":"Micah B Warren, Larisa G Poddubnaya, Alexander E Zhokhov, Florian B Reyda, Anindo Choudhury, Stephen A Bullard","doi":"10.1645/23-14","DOIUrl":"10.1645/23-14","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sanguinicola Plehn, 1905 comprises 26 species that collectively infect fishes from 8 orders (Cypriniformes, Characiformes, Siluriformes, Esociformes, Salmoniformes, Labriformes, Centrarchiformes, and Perciformes). Its revision is warranted because several species assigned to the genus could represent new genera, nucleotide sequences are wanting, many species have incomplete descriptions, and types for most species are missing or of poor quality. Herein, we emend Sanguinicola based on morphology and the first nucleotide-based phylogenetic analysis that includes multiple sequences from morphologically identified adult specimens. We describe Sanguinicola plehnae Warren and Bullard n. sp. from the heart of northern pike, Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758 from Russia; provide supplemental observations of Sanguinicola volgensis (Rašín, 1929) McIntosh, 1934 from the heart of sabrefish (type species), Pelecus cultratus (Linnaeus, 1758) Berg, 1949 from Russia; describe Sanguinicola cf. volgensis from the heart of ide, Leuciscus idus (Linnaeus, 1758) Berg, 1949 from Russia; and describe Pseudosanguinicola occidentalis (Van Cleave and Mueller, 1932) Warren and Bullard n. gen., n. comb. from the heart of walleye, Sander vitreus (Mitchill, 1818) Bailey, Latta, and Smith, 2004 from eastern North America. Sanguinicola plehnae differs from its congeners by having lateral tegumental spines that total 118-122, are small (3% of body width), and protrude 2-3 µm from the tegument (lacking associated conical protrusion) as well as by having a large testis (>40% of body length). Sanguinicola volgensis differs from its congeners by having posteriorly directed lateral tegumental spines encased in a tegumental conical protrusion as well as by having an ovoid egg. Specimens of S. cf. volgensis differ from those of S. volgensis by having a body that is 5-6× longer than wide (vs. 2-3× in S. volgensis) and <90 lateral tegumental spines (vs. >95). Pseudosanguinicola Warren and Bullard n. gen. differs from Sanguinicola by having densely transverse rows of lateral tegumental spines (vs. a single column of large spines). The phylogenetic analysis utilizing the large subunit ribosomal DNA (28S) failed to reject monophyly of Sanguinicola.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10658880/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10116707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ERECTION OF BOTHRIOCESTUS N. GEN. (CESTODA: BOTHRIOCEPHALIDEA) AND REDESCRIPTION OF BOTHRIOCESTUS CUSPIDATUS (COOPER, 1917) (SYN. BOTHRIOCEPHALUS CUSPIDATUS) FROM WALLEYE, SANDER VITREUS, (PERCIFORMES: PERCIDAE) IN NORTH AMERICA.","authors":"Tomáš Scholz, Anindo Choudhury, Florian Reyda","doi":"10.1645/22-99","DOIUrl":"10.1645/22-99","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Based on previous molecular phylogenetic analyses, Bothriocestus n. gen. is erected to accommodate bothriocephalid tapeworms that have an elongate scolex, a well-developed apical disc, and a narrow neck region, parasitize freshwater fishes in the Holarctic, and were previously placed in the polyphyletic genus Bothriocephalus Rudolphi, 1808 (Cestoda: Bothriocephalidea). Bothriocestus claviceps (Goeze, 1782) n. comb., a parasite of eels (Anguilla spp.) in the Holarctic region, is designated as the type species. Another species of the new genus, Bothriocestus cuspidatus (Cooper, 1917) (syn. Bothriocephalus cuspidatusCooper, 1917) is redescribed from type and voucher specimens, and new material from the type host, the walleye, Sander vitreus (Mitchill, 1818) (Perciformes: Percidae), in Manitoba and Ontario (where the type locality is located) (Canada) and in New York state and Wisconsin. Bothriocestus cuspidatus of S. vitreus is characterized primarily by the possession of a narrow, long strobila (total length up to 18 cm) composed of distinctly craspedote, trapezoidal proglottids, with primary, secondary, and tertiary proglottids differing in size, and by an arrow-shaped (=cuspidatus) scolex that is distinctly broader than the first proglottids, widest near the base in lateral view and gradually becoming broader toward the anterior end in dorsoventral view. A \"dwarf\" form of B. cuspidatus (total length of 9-27 mm) from Johnny darter, Etheostoma nigrum Rafinesque, 1820, and tessellated darter, Etheostoma olmstedi Storer, 1842 (both Percidae: Etheostominae), is also characterized morphologically in the present paper.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10658879/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9876866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"PHEROMONE COMMUNICATION IN FEATHER-FEEDING WING LICE (INSECTA: PHTHIRAPTERA).","authors":"Christopher W Harbison, Melissa K Breen, Charlotte E C Hutchins, Domenic P Roberto","doi":"10.1645/23-29","DOIUrl":"10.1645/23-29","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pheromone communication is central to the life history of insect parasites. Determining how pheromones affect parasite behavior can provide insights into host-parasite interactions and suggest novel avenues for parasite control. Lice infest thousands of bird and mammal species and feed on the host's feathers or blood. Despite the pervasiveness of lice in wild populations and the costs they exact on livestock and poultry industries, little is known about pheromone communication in this diverse group. Here, we test for pheromone communication in the wing lice (Columbicola columbae) of Rock Doves (Columba livia). Wing lice spend the majority of their lives on bird flight feathers where they hide from host preening by inserting their bodies between coarse feather barbs. To feed, wing lice must migrate to bird body regions where they consume the insulating barbs of contour feathers. We first show that wing lice readily form aggregations on flight feathers. Next, using a Y-tube olfactometer, we demonstrate that wing lice use pheromone communication to move toward groups of nearby conspecifics. This pheromone is likely an aggregation pheromone, as wing lice only produce the pheromone when placed on flight feathers. Finally, we found that when forced to choose between groups of male and female lice, male lice move toward male groups and females toward female groups, suggesting the use of multiple pheromones. Ongoing work aims to determine the chemical identity and function of these pheromones.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10658871/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10116710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF CYCLOCOELIDAE STOSSICH, 1902 (PLATYHELMINTHES: DIGENEA) INFECTING THE NASOPHARYNGEAL CAVITY OF CANADA GOOSE, BRANTA CANADENSIS (ANSERIFORMES: ANATIDAE) FROM WESTERN ALABAMA.","authors":"Haley R Dutton, Stephen A Bullard, Anita M Kelly","doi":"10.1645/23-10","DOIUrl":"10.1645/23-10","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>While surveying the parasites of birds associated with western Alabama aquaculture ponds, we collected several specimens of Anativermis normdroneni n. gen., n. sp. (Digenea: Cyclocoelidae) from the nasopharyngeal cavity of a Canada goose, Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Anseriformes: Anatidae). These flukes were heat killed and fixed in neutral buffered formalin for morphology or preserved in 95% ethanol for DNA extraction. Anativermis resembles Morishitium (Witenberg, 1928) by having testes that are spheroid with smooth margins and located in the posterior quarter of the body, an anterior testis that is lateral to the midline and abuts the respective cecum, a posterior testis that is medial (testes diagonal) and abuts the cyclocoel, a genital pore that is immediately postpharyngeal, and a vitellarium that is discontinuous posteriorly. The new genus differs from Morishitium and is unique among all other cyclocoelid genera by having the combination of a body that is broadest in the anterior body half, a posterior body end that is more sharply tapered than the anterior body end, an ovary that nearly abuts the posterior testis, a vitellarium that is asymmetrical and distributes from the area immediately posterior to the cecal bifurcation posteriad to approximately the level of the ovary, and uterine loops extending dorsolateral to the ceca and filling the space between the ceca and the respective body margin for nearly the entire body length. The new genus was recovered as a distinct lineage in separate 28S, 18S, and ITS2 phylogenetic analyses. This is the first report of a cyclocoelid infecting the Canada goose and of a cyclocoelid from Alabama.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10658866/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10116706","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"GENETIC VARIATION OF LEPTOTROMBIDIUM (ACARI: TROMBICULIDAE) MITES CARRYING ORIENTIA TSUTSUGAMUSHI, THE BACTERIAL PATHOGEN CAUSING SCRUB TYPHUS.","authors":"Motohiko Ogawa, Nobuhiro Takada, Shinichi Noda, Mamoru Takahashi, Minenosuke Matsutani, Daisuke Kageyama, Hideki Ebihara","doi":"10.1645/22-97","DOIUrl":"10.1645/22-97","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Leptotrombidium (Acari: Trombiculidae) mites are carriers of Orientia tsutsugamushi, the bacterial pathogen causing scrub typhus in humans. Classification of Leptotrombidium is vital because limited mite species carry O. tsutsugamushi. Generally, Leptotrombidium at the larval stage (approximately 0.2 mm in size) are used for morphological identification. However, morphological identification is often challenging because it requires considerable skills and taxonomic expertise. In this study, we found that the full-length sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene varied among the significant Leptotrombidium. On the basis of these, we modified the canonical deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) barcoding method for animals by redesigning the primer set to be suitable for Leptotrombidium. Polymerase chain reaction with the redesigned primer set drastically increased the detection sensitivity, especially against Leptotrombidium scutellare (approximately 17% increase), one of the significant mites carrying O. tsutsugamushi. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the samples morphologically classified as L. scutellare and Leptotrombidium pallidum were further split into 3 and 2 distinct subclusters respectively. The mean genetic distance (p-distance) between L. scutellare and L. pallidum was 0.2147, whereas the mean distances within each species were 0.052 and 0.044, respectively. Within L. scutellare, the mean genetic distances between the 3 subclusters were 0.1626-0.1732, whereas the distances within each subcluster were 0.003-0.017. Within L. pallidum, the mean genetic distance between the 2 subclusters was 0.1029, whereas the distances within each subcluster were 0.010-0.013. The DNA barcoding uncovered a broad genetic diversity of Leptotrombidium, especially of L. scutellare and L. pallidum, the notable species carrying O. tsutsugamushi. We conclude that the DNA barcoding using our primers enables precise and detailed classification of Leptotrombidium and implies the existence of a subgenotype in Leptotrombidium that had not been found by morphological identification.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10658875/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10278794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"NOVEL REPORT OF THE EUROPEAN VARIANT OF ECHINOCOCCUS MULTILOCULARIS IN COYOTES (CANIS LATRANS) IN NEW YORK STATE.","authors":"Corinne L Conlon, Krysten L Schuler, Manigandan Lejeune, Christopher M Whipps","doi":"10.1645/22-104","DOIUrl":"10.1645/22-104","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Echinococcus multilocularis is a zoonotic cestode that can infect wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. In humans, infection with the larval stage of the parasite causes the disease alveolar echinococcosis, which can be fatal if left untreated. Surveillance for the parasite in New York State occurred during the 2021-2022 coyote (Canis latrans) hunting season. Fecal samples and the gastrointestinal tracts (GIT) from 43 coyote carcasses were collected from hunters and trappers across 8 counties. Fecal samples were screened for E. multilocularis DNA using a multiplex PCR. Three samples tested positive for E. multilocularis DNA. Subsequently, adult cestodes were collected from GIT samples using the sedimentation, filtration, and counting technique. Phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences from the nad2 and cob genes from individual worms indicated these New York sequences cluster with E. multilocularis sequences from Europe. This is the first report of adult E. multilocularis cestodes in New York State, as well as the first detection of the European haplotype of E. multilocularis in wildlife in the northeastern United States.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10658865/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10116708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ADULT TAPEWORM (PLATYHELMINTHES: CESTODA) PARASITES OF NORTH AMERICAN HERPETOFAUNA: CHECKLIST OF SPECIES AND IDENTIFICATION KEY TO FAMILIES AND GENERA.","authors":"Manuel de Luna, Roberto García-Barrios, Diane P Barton, Leonardo García-Vázquez","doi":"10.1645/23-6","DOIUrl":"10.1645/23-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An updated checklist of adult tapeworms (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda) that parasitize wild North American amphibians and reptiles is presented: A total of 58 species grouped in 15 genera, 5 families, and 3 orders, are registered; these infect a total of 90 species of reptiles and 88 species of amphibians in the region. An illustrated identification key for the families and genera listed is proposed.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10658874/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10116716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"EXPERIMENTAL INFECTIONS WITH EUHAPLORCHIS CALIFORNIENSIS AND A SMALL CYATHOCOTYLID INCREASE CONSPICUOUS BEHAVIORS IN CALIFORNIA KILLIFISH (FUNDULUS PARVIPINNIS).","authors":"Kelly L Weinersmith, Lauren E Nadler, Erik Bengston, Andrew V Turner, Abhinav Birda, Karina Cobian, Jennifer A Dusto, Siri H Helland-Riise, Jasmine M Terhall, Øyvind Øverli, Ryan F Hechinger","doi":"10.1645/23-35","DOIUrl":"10.1645/23-35","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Some parasites manipulate their host's phenotype to enhance predation rates by the next host in the parasite's life cycle. Our understanding of this parasite-increased trophic transmission is often stymied by study-design challenges. A recurring difficulty has been obtaining uninfected hosts with a coevolutionary history with the parasites, and conducting experimental infections that mimic natural processes. In 1996, Lafferty and Morris provided what has become a classic example of parasite-increased trophic transmission; they reported a positive association between the intensity of a brain-infecting trematode (Euhaplorchis californiensis) in naturally infected California killifish (Fundulus parvipinnis) and the frequency of conspicuous behaviors, which was thought to explain the documented 10-30× increase in predation by the final host birds. Here, we address the primary gap in that study by using experimental infections to assess the causality of E. californiensis infection for increased conspicuous behaviors in F. parvipinnis. We hatched and reared uninfected F. parvipinnis from a population co-occurring with E. californiensis, and infected them 1-2 times/week over half their life span with E. californiensis and a small cyathocotylid trematode (SMCY) that targets the host's muscle tissue. At 3 time points throughout the hosts' lives, we quantified several conspicuous behaviors: contorting, darting, scratching, surfacing, and vertical positioning relative to the water's surface. Euhaplorchis californiensis and SMCY infection caused 1.8- and 2.5-fold overall increases in conspicuous behaviors, respectively. Each parasite was also associated with increases in specific conspicuous behaviors, particularly 1.9- and 1.4-fold more darting. These experimental findings help solidify E. californiensis-F. parvipinnis as a classic example of behavioral manipulation. Yet our findings for E. californiensis infection-induced behavioral change were less consistent and strong than those previously documented. We discuss potential explanations for this discrepancy, particularly the idea that behavioral manipulation may be most apparent when fish are actively attacked by predators. Our findings concerning the other studied trematode species, SMCY, highlight that trophically transmitted parasites infecting various host tissues are known to be associated with conspicuous behaviors, reinforcing calls for research examining how communities of trophically transmitted parasites influence host behavior.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10658870/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10116712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"EVIDENCE OF PROTOZOAN AND BACTERIAL INFECTION AND CO-INFECTION AND PARTIAL BLOOD FEEDING IN THE INVASIVE TICK HAEMAPHYSALIS LONGICORNIS IN PENNSYLVANIA.","authors":"Keith J Price, Noelle Khalil, Bryn J Witmier, Brooke L Coder, Christian N Boyer, Erik Foster, Rebecca J Eisen, Goudarz Molaei","doi":"10.1645/22-122","DOIUrl":"10.1645/22-122","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, an invasive tick species in the United States, has been found actively host-seeking while infected with several human pathogens. Recent work has recovered large numbers of partially engorged, host-seeking H. longicornis, which together with infection findings raises the question of whether such ticks can reattach to a host and transmit pathogens while taking additional bloodmeals. Here we conducted molecular blood meal analysis in tandem with pathogen screening of partially engorged, host-seeking H. longicornis to identify feeding sources and more inclusively characterize acarological risk. Active, statewide surveillance in Pennsylvania from 2020 to 2021 resulted in the recovery of 22/1,425 (1.5%) partially engorged, host-seeking nymphal and 5/163 (3.1%) female H. longicornis. Pathogen testing of engorged nymphs detected 2 specimens positive for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, 2 for Babesia microti, and 1 co-infected with Bo. burgdorferi s.l. and Ba. microti. No female specimens tested positive for pathogens. Conventional PCR blood meal analysis of H. longicornis nymphs detected avian and mammalian hosts in 3 and 18 specimens, respectively. Mammalian blood was detected in all H. longicornis female specimens. Only 2 H. longicornis nymphs produced viable sequencing results and were determined to have fed on black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax. These data are the first to molecularly confirm H. longicornis partial blood meals from vertebrate hosts and Ba. microti infection and co-infection with Bo. burgdorferi s.l. in host-seeking specimens in the United States, and the data help characterize important determinants indirectly affecting vectorial capacity. Repeated blood meals within a life stage by pathogen-infected ticks suggest that an understanding of the vector potential of invasive H. longicornis populations may be incomplete without data on their natural host-seeking behaviors and blood-feeding patterns in nature.</p>","PeriodicalId":16659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Parasitology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10658867/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9805828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}