No evidence of Bartonella infections in host-seeking Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus ticks in the United States

Bai, Ying; McClung, Kristin L.; Osikowicz, Lynn M.; Maes, Sarah; Eisen, Rebecca J.

doi:10.1186/s13071-024-06386-3

No evidence of Bartonella infections in host-seeking Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus ticks in the United States

Journal Article · Mon Aug 19 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · Parasites & Vectors

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06386-3· OSTI ID:2471320

Bai, Ying ^[1]; McClung, Kristin L. ^[2]; Osikowicz, Lynn M. ^[1]; Maes, Sarah ^[1]; Eisen, Rebecca J. ^[1]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Fort Collins, CO (United States). National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Fort Collins, CO (United States). National Wildlife Research Center

Background. Bartonella spp. infect a variety of vertebrates throughout the world, with generally high prevalence. Several Bartonella spp. are known to cause diverse clinical manifestations in humans and have been recognized as emerging pathogens. These bacteria are mainly transmitted by blood-sucking arthropods, such as fleas and lice. The role of ticks in the transmission of Bartonella spp. is unclear. Methods. A recently developed quadruplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicon next-generation sequencing approach that targets Bartonella-specific fragments on gltA, ssrA, rpoB, and groEL was applied to test host-seeking Ixodes scapularis ticks (n=1641; consisting of 886 nymphs and 755 adults) collected in 23 states of the eastern half of the United States and Ixodes pacificus ticks (n=966; all nymphs) collected in California in the western United States for the presence of Bartonella DNA. These species were selected because they are common human biters and serve as vectors of pathogens causing the greatest number of vector-borne diseases in the United States. Results. No Bartonella DNA was detected in any of the ticks tested by any target. Conclusions. Owing to the lack of Bartonella detection in a large number of host-seeking Ixodes spp. ticks tested across a broad geographical region, our results strongly suggest that I. scapularis and I. pacificus are unlikely to contribute more than minimally, if at all, to the transmission of Bartonella spp.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

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

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

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0014664

OSTI ID:: 2471320

Journal Information:: Parasites & Vectors, Journal Name: Parasites & Vectors Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 17; ISSN 1756-3305

Publisher:: BioMed CentralCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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