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. 2020 Nov;11(6):101550.
doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101550. Epub 2020 Sep 2.

Survey of Rickettsia parkeri and Amblyomma maculatum associated with small mammals in southeastern Virginia

Alexandra N Cumbie  1 , Christina D Espada  1 , Robyn M Nadolny  2 , Robert K Rose  1 , Raymond D Dueser  3 , Wayne L Hynes  4 , Holly D Gaff  5
Affiliations

Survey of Rickettsia parkeri and Amblyomma maculatum associated with small mammals in southeastern Virginia

Alexandra N Cumbie et al. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2020 Nov.

Abstract

Small mammals are often parasitized by the immature stages of hard-bodied ticks (family Ixodidae) and may serve as reservoir hosts of tick-borne pathogens. Amblyomma maculatum, the Gulf Coast tick, is the primary vector of Rickettsia parkeri, the causative agent of R. parkeri rickettsiosis. This hard-bodied tick species is expanding its historical range from the Gulf Coast of the U.S. up the Mid-Atlantic coast. In Mid-Atlantic states, such as Virginia, R. parkeri prevalence is higher in these ticks than those found in its historical range. This high prevalence may be explained in part by small mammal populations. In this study, small mammals were trapped and checked for the presence of immature A. maculatum. The ticks as well as tissue samples from these mammals were tested for the presence of R. parkeri. This study found six rodent species acting as hosts to immature A. maculatum and three species that may play a role in the enzootic cycle of R. parkeri in Virginia.

Keywords: Amblyomma maculatum; Enzootic cycle; Hosts; Immature; Rickettsia parkeri; Rodents.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interest

None.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Map of small mammal live-trapping sites in southeastern Virginia. Long-term monthly surveillance was done at CH1 and CH2, which area located within the City of Chesapeake. Trapping was also done at HM1 in the City of Hampton and SF0 in the City of Suffolk. Additional samples were donated from other contracted work from locations in the City of Newport News (NN0), the City of Hampton (HM0), the City of Virginia Beach (VB2 and VB3), the City of Chesapeake (CH0), in Northampton County (KP0, BI3, BI5), and in Accomack County (BI4).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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