Title: Emerging Tick-borne Diseases of the Southern United States
1Emerging Tick-borne Diseases of theSouthern
United States
- William H. Dees1, Richard G. Robbins2
- and Jerome Goddard3
- 1McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA
- 2Armed Forces Pest Management Board, Washington,
DC - 3Mississippi State Department of Health, Jackson,
MS
2Abstract
- A review of the scientific literature published
over the last ten years indicates that at least
nine tick-borne diseases occur in the southern
United States. A tenth disease, Q fever caused
Coxiella burnetii, is not thought to be
transmitted by ticks in the American South. All
ten pathogens are briefly described herein,
together with their principal vectors. This
presentation was originally given in poster form
at the 35th Annual Conference of the Society for
Vector Ecology, Coeur dAlene, Idaho, 5-8 October
2003.
3States of the Southern United States
4Tick-borne Diseases of the South
- Babesiosis
- Babesia microti
- Other Babesia spp. possibly associated with human
infection continue to be discovered - Borreliosis
- Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme Disease - LD)
- B. lonestari (Southern Tick-Associated Rash
Illness - STARI) - B. turicatae (Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever - TBRF)
- Other Borrelia spp./strains possibly associated
with human infection continue to be discovered - Ehrlichiosis
- Ehrlichia chaffeensis
- Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (HME)
- E. ewingii/others
- Human disease/nonspecific
5- Anaplasma phagocytophilum
- Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis (HGE)
- Q Fever
- Coxiella burnetii
- Rickettsiosis
- Rickettsia rickettsii (RMSF)
- Other Rickettsia spp. possibly associated with
human infection continue to be discovered - Tularemia
- Francisella tularensis
- Affliction - Tick Paralysis
6- Babesiosis
- Protozoan parasite of red blood cells
- Babesia microti has been reported in Missouri
(edge of Southern U.S.). - Most infections are asymptomatic, although
babesiois is a potentially fatal disease. - Vector
- Ixodes scapularis
- Related disease agents
- Babesia canis in dogs Southern U.S.
- Babesia gibsoni in dogs Southern U.S.
- Babesia equi in horses FL
CDC
CDC
7- Lyme Disease (LD)
- Bacterium
- Borrelia burgdorferi
- Most cases reported from Northeast, Mid-Atlantic
and North-Central U.S., although additional
genetically varied strains and tick vectors may
occur in the South. - Has a high potential transmission rate.
- Principal vector
- Ixodes scapularis
- Secondary or potential vectors include
- Other Ixodes spp.
- Amblyomma spp.
- Dermacentor spp. (OK)
CDC
CDC
8Figure 1. Lyme Disease in TX and OKfrom MMWR1,
CDC21MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report2CDC Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
9- Figure 1 shows fluctuations in the numbers of
LD cases over the last ten years. The number of
cases in TX ranged from 32 to 97 per year. OK
reported a decrease in the number of cases.
False-positive test results and over-diagnosis
may have resulted in the increased numbers from
1994-1997. Since 1998, only a few cases (lt13)
have been reported in OK.
10Figure 2. Lyme Disease in Southeastern U.S.from
MMWR1, CDC21MMWR Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report2CDC Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention
11- Figure 2 shows fluctuations in the numbers
of LD cases over the last ten years. Last years
(2002) data indicate an increase in LD cases.
This increase is due to the unusually large
number of cases reported from NC and FL. NC
reported 137 cases, which is almost half the
cases shown for 2002 and is over three times the
number of cases reported by NC in 2001. FL
reported 81 cases, twice the number reported in
2001. In light of the fact that immature Ixodes
scapularis in the Southeast frequently feed on
lizards and skinks, it is suspected that many of
these cases are actually imports from other areas
of the country, especially the Northeast.
12- Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI)
- Bacterium
- Borrelia lonestari (?)
- Shows symptoms similar to Lyme disease.
- B. lonestari and closely related Borrelia species
are present in nature in several southern states. - Vector
- Amblyomma americanum
- found throughout the South
- Overall, the number one arthropod-borne disease
of humans in the U.S. is Lyme disease, caused by
Borrelia burgdorferi. However, this may not be
the case in the southern states, where Borrelia
lonestari and/or another undescribed
Borrelia-like spirochete may cause borreliosis.
CDC
13 Tick-borne Relapsing Fever
- Bacterium
- Borrelia turicatae
- Most cases reported from the Midwest and western
U.S. - Transmission by bite or coxal fluid.
- Vector
- Ornithodoros turicata (TX)
ForestryImages
James L. Occi
14- Ehrlichiosis
- Caused by at least three different agents.
- Recognized in U.S. since mid-1980s.
- Presents clinical features similar to Rocky
Mountain spotted fever. - Became notifiable by Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) in 1999. - Bacterium
- Ehrlichia chaffeensis
- Described in 1987.
- Causes human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME).
- States with the highest prevalence in the
southern U.S. are AR, OK and TN. -
15- Principal vector
- Amblyomma americanum
- Secondary vector
- Dermacentor variabilis
CDC
CDC
16- Bacterium
- Ehrlichia ewingii
- Causes nonspecific human disease.
- Thus far mostly reported in immuno-compromised
individuals. - Vectors
- Amblyomma americanum (also
suspect Dermacentor variabilis
and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (?))
CDC
17- Bacterium
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum
- Described in 1994.
- Causes human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE).
- Vector
- Ixodes scapularis
-
- Potential vector
- Dermacentor variabilis
CDC
CDC
18- Q Fever
- Rickettsia
- Coxiella burnetii
- Cosmopolitan zoonotic disease, reported from
various areas throughout the U.S. - Primary reservoirs are cattle, sheep and goats.
- Typically acquired through inhalation of
contaminated dust or debris. - Ticks not major source of human infection in U.S.
- Recently reported in GA and TN however, unlikely
that ticks were involved. - Acute febrile disease. There is considerable
variation in severity and duration. Some
infections may present as fever of unknown
origin (FUO). - Declared a notifiable disease by Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention in 1999 some
states consider it not notifiable.
19- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)
- Rickettsia
- Rickettsia rickettsii
- Most common fatal tick-borne disease in the U.S.
- Characterized by fever, myalgia, headache and
rash. - Despite name, RMSF is a disease of the South.
Historically, NC and OK have accounted for about
a third of all cases. Besides these two states,
recent data indicate SC, TN and AR have the
greatest numbers of cases. - Seasonal outbreaks parallel activity of tick
vectors. - Delayed diagnosis and treatment are associated
with increased risk of severe complications and
death. - Therapy should be initiated quickly if RMSF
suspected, especially in patients presenting with
fever, rash and history of tick exposure.
20- Vector
- Dermacentor variabilis
- Other ixodids possibly involved.
- Other Rickettsia spp. have been detected in
Amblyomma americanum, A. cajennense, Ixodes
scapularis, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus.
CDC
21Figure 3. RMSF in TX and OK from MMWR, CDC
22- Figure 3 shows fluctuations in the number of
RMSF cases in TX and OK. In OK, the number of
cases ranged from 29 to 62 per year. TX reported
0-10 cases/year. In Oklahoma, recent studies
(McQuiston et al. 2000) show the incidence of
RMSF to be significantly higher in American
Indians when compared to the overall population
of that state.
23Figure 4. RMSF in Southeastern U.S.from MMWR,
CDC
24- Figure 4 shows a general increase in RMSF in
the Southeast. In 2002, NC, SC and AR nearly
doubled the number of reported cases from the
previous year. Increasing suburban development
in many parts of the Southeast may cause larger
numbers of people to come into contact with
vector ticks.
25- Tularemia
- Bacterium
- Francisella tularensis
- Acute plague-like zoonotic infection with a
variety of clinical manifestations related to
route of introduction and virulence of pathogen.
- Several ways of acquiring infection (food, water,
aerosol). - Natural transmission also occurs via tick bites.
- Can be fatal if it is not treated with
appropriate antibiotics. - Sporadic cases occur in all states in the U.S.
In 2000, states with the highest prevalence in
the southern U.S. were AR (23), OK (11), NC (2),
TN (1)historically, TN has reported more cases,
and GA (1). - Within the last 2 years, lt25 cases were reported
in any southern state. - Incidence in the U.S. has declined substantially
over the years. The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention removed tularemia as a notifiable
disease in 1994, but reinstated it effective
January 1, 2000, because of its potential as a
bioterrorism agent.
26- Vectors
- Dermacentor variabilis
- Amblyomma americanum
-
- Potential vectors
- Almost any ixodid tick
-
CDC
CDC
27- Miscellaneous
- In TX in 2001, Houck et al. reported the first
evidence of hantavirus-specific RNA (Bayou) from
an unidentified adult ixodid tick collected from
a hantavirus-positive cotton rat, Sigmodon
hispidus. - This does not necessarily mean that ticks can
transmit hantavirus. - The third author (J.G.) has found
an unidentified trypanosome-like
organism in
hemolymph of
Ixodes scapularis.
Suspected trypanosome 1,000X (Photo by JG)
28- Affliction - Tick Paralysis
- Acute, ascending, flaccid motor paralysis caused
by a toxin in tick saliva. - In 2000, tick paralysis was reported in a young
girl in GA. The tick Dermacentor variabilis was
found and removed. Within 24 hours, all signs
and symptoms had fully resolved. - The third author (J.G.) has investigated two bona
fide cases in MS over the past decade. - Affects both humans and other animals throughout
the South. - Principal tick species causing paralysis
- Dermacentor spp.
- Other ticks known to cause paralysis
- Ixodes spp.
- Amblyomma spp.
- Rhipicephalus spp.
CDC
29- Ticks Reported Biting Humans in the Southern U.S.
- Hard Ticks
- Amblyomma americanum - lone star tick
- A. cajennense - Cayenne tick
- A. imitator - imitator tick
- A. inornatum
- A. maculatum - Gulf Coast tick
- A. tuberculatum - gopher tortoise tick
- Boophilis annulatus - cattle tick
- Dermacentor variabilis - American dog tick
- Haemaphysalis leporispalustris - rabbit tick
- Ixodes brunneus
- I. cookei (vector of Powassan virus in NE U.S.)
- I. dentatus
- I. scapularis - blacklegged tick
- Rhipicephalus sanguineus - brown dog tick
30- Soft Ticks
- Argas miniatus - fowl tick
- Ornithodoros stageri
- O. turicata - relapsing fever tick
- Otobius megnini - spinose ear tick
-
31Selected References
- Barbour, AG. 1996. Does Lyme disease occur in the
South? A survey of emerging tick-borne
infections in the region. Am J Med Sci 311(1)
34-40 - Dworkin MS, PC Shoemaker, CL Fritz, ME Dowell and
DE Anderson, Jr. 2002. The epidemiology of
tick-borne relapsing fever in the United States.
Am J Trop Med Hyg 66(6)753-758 - Goddard, J. 2002. A ten-year study of tick biting
in Mississippi Implications for human disease
transmission. J Agromed 825-32 - Harrison, BA, BR Engber and CS Apperson. 1996.
Ticks (AcariIxodida) uncommonly found biting
humans in North Carolina. J Vector Ecol 22(1)
6-12 - Houck, MA, H Qin and HR Roberts. 2001. Hantavirus
transmission Potential role of ectoparasites.
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 1(1) 75-79 - McQuiston, JH, RC Holman, AV Groom, SF Kaufman,
JE Cheek and JE Childs. 2000. Incidence of Rocky
Mountain spotted fever among American Indians in
Oklahoma. Public Health Reports 115(5) 469-475 - McQuiston, JH, CD Paddock, RC Holman and JE
Childs. 1999. The human ehrlichioses in the
United States. http//www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol5n
o5/ mcquiston.htm - Merten HA and LA Durden. 2000. A state-by-state
survey of ticks recorded from humans in the
United States. J Vector Ecol 25(1) 102-113
32- Morbidity reports and summaries.
http//www.cdc.gov/mmwr - Tick and tick-borne diseases information.
http//www.cdc.gov