Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases最新文献

{"title":"Limits to Hyalomma marginatum range expansion in France: lessons from population transplant","authors":"Carla Giupponi ,&nbsp;Frédéric Stachurski ,&nbsp;Thomas Pollet ,&nbsp;Nicolas Cebe ,&nbsp;Maxime Duhayon ,&nbsp;Denis Picot ,&nbsp;Jean-Luc Rames ,&nbsp;Karine Huber ,&nbsp;Hélène Verheyden ,&nbsp;Hélène Jourdan-Pineau","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102652","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102652","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Hyalomma marginatum</em> occurs across a wide range of environments, from Mediterranean lowlands in North Africa to continental steppes in Eastern Europe and has recently colonized diverse habitats in southern France. This ecological breadth raises key questions regarding its capacity to complete its life cycle under contrasting environmental conditions and whether its current distribution in France reflects ecological limits. In this study, we investigated the thermal tolerance and developmental performance of <em>H. marginatum</em> through a population transplant experiment. Engorged females and nymphs reared under controlled conditions were released at two climatically distinct sites: Pompignan (Gard), where the species is highly abundant and characterized by a Mediterranean climate, and Gardouch (Haute-Garonne), where the species is not yet established and experiences a southwestern basin climate. At each site, individuals were placed in two contrasting microhabitats (open versus forested environments) to assess the influence of local and microclimatic conditions on life cycle timing and survival. Our results show that <em>H. marginatum</em> is able to complete its entire life cycle at both sites with broadly similar phenology. In contrast, microhabitat had a stronger influence on development and survival, indicating substantial phenotypic plasticity in response to local environmental conditions. The absence of established populations in Gardouch area therefore cannot be readily explained by climatic constraints alone, and may instead reflect dispersal limitations, unsuitable timing of introductions, or other environmental factors such as humidity or vegetation structure. Our findings suggest that <em>H. marginatum</em> has the potential to further expand its range in France in the coming years.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 3","pages":"Article 102652"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Two pediatric Lyme neuroborreliosis patients presenting with cerebrovascular events","authors":"Heidi Pöyhönen ,&nbsp;Annukka Pietikäinen ,&nbsp;Varpu Rinne ,&nbsp;Aapo Sirén ,&nbsp;Satu Ranne ,&nbsp;Ville Peltola ,&nbsp;Jukka Hytönen","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102660","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102660","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Pediatric Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB), caused by <em>Borrelia burgdorferi</em> sensu lato (Bbsl), may rarely present with cerebrovascular involvement, particularly affecting the posterior circulation and causing ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. In endemic regions, LNB should be considered a potential cause of pediatric stroke.</div></div><div><h3>Case presentation</h3><div><em>Case 1</em>: An 8-year-old girl presented with recurrent episodes of impaired awareness, transient right arm flaccidity, and constitutional symptoms. MRI showed leptomeningeal enhancement, and time-of-flight angiography revealed focal narrowing of both posterior cerebral arteries. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) demonstrated pleocytosis, elevated protein, and increased Bbsl-specific antibodies and CXCL13.</div><div><em>Case 2</em>: A 13-year-old girl presented with acute dizziness, dysarthria, and left-sided weakness. Brain CT was normal, but CT angiography showed irregularities in the posterior circulation, and MRI performed 12 hours later confirmed an acute pontine infarct. CSF showed pleocytosis, elevated protein, increased Bbsl-specific antibodies and CXCL13, and positive Bbsl-PCR.</div></div><div><h3>Intervention</h3><div>Both patients received intravenous ceftriaxone, patient 1 for two, and patient 2 for three weeks. Case 1 was treated with aspirin, and Case 2 received high-dose methylprednisolone and anticoagulation, later transitioned to aspirin.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Both patients improved rapidly. Case 1 became fully asymptomatic within one month, with near-complete radiologic resolution. Case 2 recovered functional independence and returned to school within weeks, with only mild residual neurological findings at follow-up.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>These cases emphasize the varied neurological presentations of LNB and the importance of including Lyme diagnostics in the evaluation of pediatric ischemic events. It is important to recognize LNB as an etiology of pediatric stroke because effective antimicrobial therapy may dramatically change outcome.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 3","pages":"Article 102660"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147989696","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A case of human neoehrlichiosis with myocarditis in Germany: Clinical presentation and molecular diagnosis of the pathogen","authors":"Kirsten Bress ,&nbsp;Leon Arnold ,&nbsp;Ingo Tarner ,&nbsp;Tim Wilhelmi ,&nbsp;Julia Franke ,&nbsp;Michael Ehlers ,&nbsp;Ulf Müller-Ladner ,&nbsp;Klaus-Peter Hunfeld","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102646","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102646","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although rare, neoehrlichiosis in humans caused by <em>N. mikurensis</em> has gained increasing attention as an emerging tick-borne zoonosis, especially in immunocompromised patients in Europe. Here we report on a case of human neoehrlichiosis in Germany, which occurred in a 66-year-old woman with a history of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), B-cell depletion therapy, and secondary antiphospholipid syndrome. While undergoing long-term treatment for GPA with the monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab, the patient was hospitalized because of a prolonged fever of unknown origin (FUO) and hyperinflammatory syndrome. Neoehrlichiosis was diagnosed directly through eubacterial 16S rRNA PCR screening of EDTA whole blood from the patient, followed by genetic sequence analysis of the amplicon. In addition to a systemic infection, the patient also suffered from complicating myocarditis. Her condition eventually improved after treatment with doxycycline and a follow-up PCR revealed that the neoehrlichia DNA was finally cleared from her blood. Our findings provide further evidence that human neoehrlichiosis is endemic in Germany and suggest that <em>N. mikurensis</em> can also cause myocarditis. Consequently, in potential areas of endemicity, <em>N. mikurensis</em> should be considered in immunocompromised individuals with FUO and signs of infection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 3","pages":"Article 102646"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147787072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"First description of Hyalomma rufipes in Austria","authors":"Gernot Walder ,&nbsp;Jasmin Palasser ,&nbsp;Jutta Pikalo ,&nbsp;Khazar Edrisi Maryan ,&nbsp;Hans-Peter Fuehrer ,&nbsp;Ivan Stimac ,&nbsp;Bettina Faustini ,&nbsp;Petra Eder-Negrin ,&nbsp;Christian Bundschuh","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102657","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102657","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This investigation highlights the first detection of <em>Hyalomma rufipes</em> in Austria (district of Lienz, East Tyrol). The tick was discovered on a horse, and it was subjected to a thorough morphological and genetic analysis to ascertain its precise species and the presence of any pathogens. Molecular analysis revealed the presence of <em>Rickettsia aeschlimannii</em> DNA. The identification of <em>Hy. rufipes</em> and <em>R. aeschlimanii</em> was validated through sequence analysis, specifically the <em>cytochrome c oxidase subunit I</em> gene of mitochondrial DNA and the <em>outer membrane protein A</em> gene, respectively. Our findings indicate a single introduction event and did not reveal any evidence of an autochthonous population. Therefore, increased monitoring of alien and potential invasive tick species is strongly recommended. This case highlights that identifying newly introduced species is more probable when public awareness is high and specialised institutions are readily available to validate suspicious discoveries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 3","pages":"Article 102657"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147876341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Disentangling complex disease ecology networks: Using structural equation modelling to quantify the direct and indirect effects of deer on Lyme borreliosis hazard” [Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 17 (2026) 102595]","authors":"Sara L. Gandy ,&nbsp;Fernanda Sanchez-Rodríguez ,&nbsp;William McLellan ,&nbsp;Fanny Olsthoorn ,&nbsp;Marianne C. James ,&nbsp;Paul C.D. Johnson ,&nbsp;Roman Biek ,&nbsp;Hein Sprong ,&nbsp;Manoj Fonville ,&nbsp;Caroline Millins ,&nbsp;Ken J. Forbes ,&nbsp;Alan S. Bowman ,&nbsp;Jaboury Ghazoul ,&nbsp;Lucy Gilbert","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102633","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102633","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 3","pages":"Article 102633"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147533994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular epidemiology and phylogeographic insights into Dabieshan tick virus in South Korea","authors":"Junho Yoon ,&nbsp;Hai Quynh Do ,&nbsp;Kyungmoon Lee ,&nbsp;Ayoung Son ,&nbsp;Byunghyun An ,&nbsp;Jong-Woo Lim ,&nbsp;Minjoo Yeom ,&nbsp;Dae Gwin Jeong ,&nbsp;Daesub Song","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102653","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102653","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dabieshan tick virus (DBTV) is a recently identified phenuivirus transmitted by ticks and has been reported across East Asia, raising concerns regarding its epidemiological and public health significance. In South Korea, DBTV was first detected in 2021, yet its genetic and epidemiological characteristics remain poorly understood. Between 2024 and 2025, a total of 1039 ticks collected from vegetation across nine regions in South Korea were grouped into 287 pools and screened for phenuivirus infection. DBTV was detected in 34 tick pools, yielding an overall minimum infection rate of 3.3%, and was identified in all surveyed regions, indicating widespread circulation. Phylogenetic analyses of the <em>L</em> and <em>N</em> genes showed that South Korean DBTV strains clustered closely with strains from multiple provinces in China and from Japan, with high nucleotide sequence similarity. Selection pressure analyses indicated predominant purifying selection acting on both genes. However, several positively selected sites and potential recombination signals were detected in the <em>L</em> gene, suggesting limited but ongoing genetic diversification. Time-scaled Bayesian phylodynamic analyses estimated that the most recent common ancestor of the South Korean DBTV strains have emerged around 2015–2016. Phylogeographic reconstruction further supported the introduction of DBTV into South Korea from Hubei Province, followed by regional dissemination. Overall, this study provides molecular epidemiological evidence for the circulation and evolutionary history of DBTV in South Korea and highlights the need for continued surveillance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 3","pages":"Article 102653"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147849937","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stage-dependent changes in prostaglandin E₂ in tick saliva determine its immunosuppressive effects","authors":"Hayato Nakamura ,&nbsp;Luís Fernando Parizi ,&nbsp;Yamato Sajiki ,&nbsp;Tomohiro Okagawa ,&nbsp;Mari Ikehata ,&nbsp;Wisa Tiyamanee ,&nbsp;Kei Watari ,&nbsp;Shwe Yee Win ,&nbsp;Naoya Maekawa ,&nbsp;Shiro Murata ,&nbsp;Kazuhiko Ohashi ,&nbsp;Carlos Logullo ,&nbsp;Itabajara da Silva Vaz Jr ,&nbsp;Satoru Konnai","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102654","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102654","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tick saliva contains bioactive molecules that can modulate host immune responses and facilitate blood feeding. Among these, prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) has been implicated in host immunosuppression, but its temporal dynamics during feeding and functional relevance remain unclear. In this study, we quantified PGE₂ concentrations in <em>Rhipicephalus microplus</em> saliva across different feeding stages and assessed its immunomodulatory effects on bovine macrophages. Salivary PGE₂ levels showed stage-dependent changes, with the highest concentrations detected during the mid-feeding phase. PGE₂ suppressed TNF-α production from macrophages stimulated with LPS and IFN-γ in a concentration-dependent manner. Notably, saliva samples with higher endogenous PGE₂ concentrations induced stronger suppression of TNF-α. Furthermore, the immunosuppressive effect of PGE₂ was replicated by selective agonists against the two PGE₂ receptors EP2 and EP4, suggesting a receptor-mediated mechanism. In addition, the saliva-mediated suppression of TNF-α production was significantly reversed by pharmacological blockade of EP receptors. Our findings reveal that the temporal increase in salivary PGE₂ during tick feeding is functionally linked to suppression of host macrophage activation. These results suggest that PGE₂ contributes to the immunomodulatory activity of tick saliva during blood feeding.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 3","pages":"Article 102654"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147849984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hard tick infestation of birds of prey (Aves: Accipitriformes, Strigiformes, Falconiformes) in the Western Palearctic: New data and literature review","authors":"Andor Pitó ,&nbsp;Attila D. Sándor ,&nbsp;Márton Horváth ,&nbsp;Szilvia Pásztory-Kovács ,&nbsp;Boyan Milchev ,&nbsp;Sándor Koleszár ,&nbsp;Előd Győrig ,&nbsp;Calin Gherman ,&nbsp;Benedek Juhász ,&nbsp;Lili Sztrehárszki ,&nbsp;Attila Mórocz ,&nbsp;Gergő Keve ,&nbsp;Paulina Lesiczka ,&nbsp;Tim Warbroek ,&nbsp;Tijs J.M. van den Bosch ,&nbsp;Nóra Takács ,&nbsp;Jenő Kontschán ,&nbsp;Sándor Hornok","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102650","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102650","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tick infestation of songbirds has been extensively studied at global and regional scales but relevant data on birds of prey remain scarce and fragmentary. Raptors are of particular epidemiological relevance because their large size, wide-ranging movements and nesting habits may facilitate long-distance dispersal of ticks, and endophilic tick species (e.g. from prey animals) may even persist in their re-used nests. In this study, we aimed to compensate for the lack of comprehensive data in this context. First, more than 1800 birds of prey were examined at 61 sites in Central and South-Eastern Europe, encompassing both continental and Mediterranean climatic regions. Ticks (n = 839) were obtained from 98 birds representing 13 raptor species from three avian orders. Twelve tick species were identified, the most abundant being <em>Rhipicephalus turanicus, Haemaphysalis concinna</em> and <em>Ixodes ricinus</em>. Several previously unknown tick–host associations were revealed. Molecular-phylogenetic analysis showed that sequences of <em>Ixodes arboricola</em> from Tawny Owls (<em>Strix aluco</em>) clustered separately from other conspecific sequences, raising the possibility that <em>Ixodes strigicola</em> Schulze and Schlottke, 1929 is a valid species. Owls proved to be the most heavily tick-infested, particularly Eurasian Eagle-Owl (<em>Bubo bubo</em>) nestlings. Endophilic and rodent-associated tick species were significantly more common on owls and on bird species nesting in cavities or buildings, whereas diurnal raptors were predominantly infested by generalist and exophilic ticks. These patterns highlight the importance of nesting ecology and prey composition in shaping tick assemblages on raptors. The results provide novel insights into tick–raptor associations, contribute new records of tick species from birds of prey, and improve our understanding of the role of raptors in tick maintenance and dispersal which appears to be particularly important in the case of cavity-nesting species. In addition to field sampling, a comprehensive database from nearly 150 published sources revealed that 32 tick species have been reported from birds of prey in the Western Palearctic to date.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 3","pages":"Article 102650"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Understanding the barriers to engagement in a passive tick surveillance program to inform public health strategies in Connecticut","authors":"Sydney M. Jones ,&nbsp;Adriana Morales Miranda ,&nbsp;Yuyi Bei ,&nbsp;Onolunose Oko-Ose ,&nbsp;Noelle Khalil ,&nbsp;Jennifer Wang ,&nbsp;Goudarz Molaei","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102655","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102655","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The incidence of tick-borne diseases is rapidly increasing in the United States, and public health surveillance systems are essential for monitoring these trends. Passive tick surveillance provides data on the distribution of tick species, the prevalence of infection in ticks, and the risk of human infection with tick-borne pathogens. The Passive Tick Surveillance Program at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES-PTSP) receives ticks from the community and tests them for common tick-borne pathogens. Although overall submissions have increased (2016–2023), recent patterns show a disproportionate decline in submissions from Connecticut towns with a high incidence of Lyme disease. To investigate these discrepancies, we mailed flyers to randomly selected household addresses in eight towns, inviting residents to participate in an online survey assessing their perceptions, behaviors, and knowledge of tick-borne diseases and the CAES-PTSP. Survey responses (<em>n</em> = 331) were analyzed via multivariate logistic regression to link demographic factors with participation barriers, including prevention attitudes, prior CAES-PTSP involvement, and perceived importance of surveillance programs. Our findings reveal disparities in participation and awareness of the CAES-PTSP, emphasizing the need for tailored outreach to address communities’ knowledge gaps about the program. These findings offer recommendations to improve engagement in the CAES-PTSP in Connecticut and support public health authorities conducting similar surveillance activities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 3","pages":"Article 102655"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147876429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ixodid and flea infestations and associated bacteria on two sympatric felid species in South Texas","authors":"Allan T. Showler ,&nbsp;Hilary Swarts ,&nbsp;Maya Murry ,&nbsp;Alisa Nelson ,&nbsp;Alexander R. Kneubehl ,&nbsp;Sarah M. Gunter","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102639","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102639","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ixodid ticks and fleas parasitize wild felids and can transmit pathogens of veterinary and public health concern. We identified ixodid and flea species collected from sympatric South Texas bobcats, <em>L. rufus</em>, and ocelots, <em>L. pardalis</em>. Greater diversities of ixodids were found on both felids than in previous reports, with seven species in three genera on <em>L. rufus</em> and six species in three genera on <em>L. pardalis</em>. We report first findings of tropical horse tick, <em>Dermacentor nitens</em>, on <em>L. rufus</em> in Texas, and <em>Ixodes keiransi</em> on both felids in Texas. Although false cayenne tick, <em>Amblyomma tenellum,</em> nymphs were the most abundant ixodids on <em>L. pardalis</em>, this is the first record from that host in the United States. Regarding fleas, the felids were predominantly (&gt;99 %) infested with peccary fleas, <em>Pulex porcinus</em>. One cat flea, <em>Ctenocephalides felis</em>, was found on <em>L. pardalis</em>; the first from that felid species in Texas. Molecular analyses detected <em>Anaplasma</em> spp., <em>Ehrlichia</em> spp., <em>Borrelia</em> spp., and <em>Rickettsia</em> spp. bacteria in ixodids collected from the felids. Although members of each bacterial group were in some ixodids on both felid species, the American dog tick, <em>Dermacentor variabilis</em>, on <em>L. rufus</em>, and the plain amblyomma, <em>Amblyomma inornatum</em>, on <em>L. pardalis</em>, were particularly prone to harboring Anaplasmataceae and <em>Rickettsia</em> spp. bacteria, respectively. While some of the bacteria might be pathogenic to vertebrates, many are likely endosymbionts, and our findings suggest that both felid species currently face a low risk of clinical tick-borne disease. These results have important implications for public and veterinary health in the U.S.–Mexico border region, where expanding tick distributions, climate-driven habitat shifts, and increasing human–wildlife interface heighten the potential for pathogen spillover.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 3","pages":"Article 102639"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147787110","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}