Duration of tick attachment necessary for transmission of Anaplasma phagocytophilum by Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) nymphs

Levin, Michael L.; Troughton, Danielle R.; Loftis, Amanda D.

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101819

Duration of tick attachment necessary for transmission of Anaplasma phagocytophilum by Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) nymphs

Journal Article · Sat Sep 04 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101819· OSTI ID:1981783

^[1]; Troughton, Danielle R. ^[1]; Loftis, Amanda D. ^[1]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA (United States)

This study assessed the duration of tick attachment necessary for a successful transmission of Anaplasma phagocytophilum by an infected I. scapularis nymph. Individual nymphs were placed upon BALB/c mice and allowed to feed for predetermined time intervals of 4 to 72 h. Ticks removed from mice at predetermined intervals were tested by PCR for verification of infection and evaluation of the bacterial load. The success of pathogen transmission to mice was assessed by blood-PCR at 7, 14 and 21 days postinfestation, and IFA at 21 days postinfestation. Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection was documented in 10-30 % of mice, from which ticks were removed within the first 20 h of feeding. However, transmission success was ≥70% if ticks remained attached for 36 h or longer. Notably, none of the PCR-positive mice that were exposed to infected ticks for 4 to 8 h and only half of PCR-positive mice exposed for 24 h developed antibodies within 3 weeks postinfestation. On the other hand, all mice with detectable bacteremia after being infested for 36 h seroconverted. This suggests that although some of the ticks removed prior to 24 h of attachment succeed in injecting a small amount of A. phagocytophilum, this amount is insufficient for stimulating humoral immunity and perhaps for establishing disseminated infection in BALB/c mice. Although A. phagocytophilum may be present in salivary glands of unfed I. scapularis nymphs, the amount of A. phagocytophilum initially contained in saliva appears insufficient to cause sustainable infection in a host. Replication and, maybe, reactivation of the agent for 12-24 h in a feeding tick is required before a mouse can be consistently infected.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0014664

OSTI ID:: 1981783

Journal Information:: Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, Journal Name: Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 12; ISSN 1877-959X

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Duration of tick attachment necessary for transmission of Anaplasma phagocytophilum by Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) nymphs

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