William L. Nicholson

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Christopher D. Paddock

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Marina E. Eremeeva

Georgia Southern University

Jennifer H. McQuiston

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

James E. Childs

Yale University

Gregory A. Dasch

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

John W. Sumner

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Robert F. Massung

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Charles S. Apperson

North Carolina State University

Gilbert J. Kersh

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

John A. Crump

Duke Medical Center

Cooperative Institutions

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

358

National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

153

Emory University

National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

Office of Infectious Diseases

Johns Hopkins University

Pediatrics and Genetics

Duke University

National Center for Infectious Diseases

Duke Medical Center

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Ticks (Ixodida)

Medical and Veterinary Entomology (2019)

William L. Nicholson Daniel E. Sonenshine Bruce H. Noden Richard N. Brown

Tick-borne disease

10.1016/b978-0-12-814043-7.00027-3

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Citations (63)

Prevalence of Rickettsia Species (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) in Dermacentor variabilis Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in North Carolina

Journal of Medical Entomology (2018)

Madhavi L. Kakumanu Loganathan Ponnusamy Haley T. Sutton Steven R. Meshnick William L. Nicholson

The American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Say), is a vector of spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae, including Rickettsia rickettsii the causative organism of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). In North Carolina, SFG rickettsioses (including RMSF) are a leading cause of tick-borne illness. Knowledge of the infection rate and geographic distribution of D. variabilis ticks infected with Rickettsia spp. provides information on the spatial distribution of public health risk. Accordingly, we extracted genomic DNA from adult D. variabilis collected from field habitats in 32 North Carolina counties from 2009 to 2013. A nested PCR assay of the 23S-5S intergenic spacer (IGS) region of Rickettsia coupled with reverse line blot hybridization (RLBH) with species-specific probes was used to detect and identify rickettsiae to species. Approximately half of the 532 tick DNA samples exhibited a band of the expected size on agarose gels, indicating infection with Rickettsia spp. RLBH analyses showed R. amblyommatis (formerly 'Candidatus R. amblyommii'), R. parkeri, and R. montanensis were predominant, while other Rickettsia species detected included R. conorii-like, R. massiliae, R. rhipicephali, R. canadensis, R. bellii, and some unknown Rickettsia spp. Some ticks were infected with more than one Rickettsia species. Notably, several Rickettsia-positive ticks harbored R. rickettsii. DNA sequencing was performed on a portion of the 23S-5S IGS amplicons and the results were concordant with RLB assay results. We conclude that Rickettsia spp. are common in D. variabilis in North Carolina. Geographic patterns in the occurrence of Rickettsia-infected D. variabilis ticks across the counties sampled are discussed.

Dermacentor variabilis

Dermacentor

Rickettsia rickettsii

10.1093/jme/tjy074

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Citations (17)

Human Infection withEhrlichia muris–like Pathogen, United States, 2007–20131

Emerging infectious diseases (2015)

Diep K. Hoang Johnson Elizabeth Schiffman Jeffrey P. Davis David F. Neitzel Lynne M. Sloan

An Ehrlichia muris-like (EML) pathogen was detected among 4 patients in Minnesota and Wisconsin during 2009. We characterized additional cases clinically and epidemiologically. During 2004-2013, blood samples from 75,077 patients from all 50 United States were tested by PCR from the groEL gene for Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. During 2007-2013, samples from 69 (0.1%) patients were positive for the EML pathogen; patients were from 5 states: Indiana (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (33), North Dakota (3), and Wisconsin (31). Most (64%) patients were male; median age was 63 (range 15-94) years; and all 69 patients reported likely tick exposure in Minnesota or Wisconsin. Fever, malaise, thrombocytopenia, and lymphopenia were the most common symptoms. Sixteen (23%) patients were hospitalized (median 4 days); all recovered, and 96% received doxycycline. Infection with the EML pathogen should be considered for persons reporting tick exposure in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum

Ehrlichiosis

Tick-borne disease

Ixodes scapularis

Malaise

10.3201/eid2110.150143

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Citations (66)

Serological survey of vector-borne zoonotic pathogens in pet cats and cats from animal shelters and feral colonies

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2006)

J. Brad Case Bruno B. Chomel William L. Nicholson Janet E. Foley

Although cats and their arthropod parasites can sometimes be important sources of zoonotic diseases in humans, the extent of exposure among various cat populations to many potential zoonotic agents remains incompletely described. In this study, 170 domestic cats living in private homes, feral cat colonies, and animal shelters from California and Wisconsin were evaluated by serology to determine the levels of exposure to a group of zoonotic vector-borne pathogens. Serological positive test results were observed in 17.2% of cats for Rickettsia rickettsii, 14.9% for R akari, 4.9% for R typhi, 11.1% for R felis, and 14.7% for Bartonella henselae. Although vector-borne disease exposure has been documented previously in cats, the evaluation of multiple pathogens and diverse cat populations simultaneously performed here contributes to our understanding of feline exposure to these zoonotic pathogens.

Bartonella

Feline calicivirus

Feral cat

Zoonosis

10.1016/j.jfms.2005.10.004

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Citations (88)

OnRickettsiaNomenclature

Emerging infectious diseases (2008)

Robert F. Massung William L. Nicholson Marina E. Eremeeva Gregory A. Dasch

his issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases contains 2 independent reports of Rickettsia sibirica infections in Spain and Portugal. The authors identify the agent both as a subspecies (1) and as a strain (2). This inconsistency refl ects a lack of consensus regarding the use of subspecies designations for Rickettsia taxa, so appropriate designation of these pathogens as strains or subspecies remains problematic. Tick-borne typhus of northern Asia (or North Asian spotted fever) was fi rst discovered in the 1930s, and its etiologic agent, R. sibirica, was formally described in 1949. In 1993, an isolate designated “mongolitimonae” was fi rst discovered in the People’s Republic of China (3), considered a new species (4), and fi nally described as a new genotype of R. sibirica (5). A proposal to create 2 subspecies, R. sibirica sibirica and R. sibirica mongolitimonae, was recently published (6). A new prokaryote name must be both effectively and validly published. To become effectively published, a name must meet certain rules, as defi ned by the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria (7). To become validly published, the name must then appear on a Validation List published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (8). This provides an orderly system for bacterial names to be properly introduced and published in the scientifi c literature. Valid and nonvalid names are listed on regularly updated websites (9,10). Names introduced without being validated have no standing in bacterial nomenclature. That is currently the status of these proposed R. sibirica subspecies. Therefore, the use of strain designations is still appropriate. If, and when, the subspecies names are validated, they are likely to be adopted and routinely used in the literature. Rickettsial taxonomy continues to evolve, and future changes should be determined by critical scientifi c judgments and general consensus within the scientifi c community. Dr Massung is chief of the Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-borne and Enteric Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. His research interests include laboratory and epidemiologic investigations targeting the detection, prevention, and control of rickettsial and Bartonella spp. diseases and Q fever.

10.3201/eid1403.080065

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Incidence Estimates of Acute Q Fever and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsioses, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, from 2007 to 2008 and from 2012 to 2014

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (2021)

Sruti Pisharody Matthew P. Rubach Manuela Carugati William L. Nicholson Jamie L. Perniciaro

Q fever and spotted fever group rickettsioses (SFGR) are common causes of severe febrile illness in northern Tanzania. Incidence estimates are needed to characterize the disease burden. Using hybrid surveillance-coupling case-finding at two referral hospitals and healthcare utilization data-we estimated the incidences of acute Q fever and SFGR in Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, from 2007 to 2008 and from 2012 to 2014. Cases were defined as fever and a four-fold or greater increase in antibody titers of acute and convalescent paired sera according to the indirect immunofluorescence assay of Coxiella burnetii phase II antigen for acute Q fever and Rickettsia conorii (2007-2008) or Rickettsia africae (2012-2014) antigens for SFGR. Healthcare utilization data were used to adjust for underascertainment of cases by sentinel surveillance. For 2007 to 2008, among 589 febrile participants, 16 (4.7%) of 344 and 27 (8.8%) of 307 participants with paired serology had Q fever and SFGR, respectively. Adjusted annual incidence estimates of Q fever and SFGR were 80 (uncertainty range, 20-454) and 147 (uncertainty range, 52-645) per 100,000 persons, respectively. For 2012 to 2014, among 1,114 febrile participants, 52 (8.1%) and 57 (8.9%) of 641 participants with paired serology had Q fever and SFGR, respectively. Adjusted annual incidence estimates of Q fever and SFGR were 56 (uncertainty range, 24-163) and 75 (uncertainty range, 34-176) per 100,000 persons, respectively. We found substantial incidences of acute Q fever and SFGR in northern Tanzania during both study periods. To our knowledge, these are the first incidence estimates of either disease in sub-Saharan Africa. Our findings suggest that control measures for these infections warrant consideration.

Q fever

Coxiella burnetii

Rickettsia rickettsii

Boutonneuse fever

10.4269/ajtmh.20-1036

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Citations (13)

A mutation associated with resistance to synthetic pyrethroids is widespread in US populations of the tropical lineage of Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases (2024)

Nathan E. Stone Rebecca Ballard Reanna M. Bourgeois Grant L. Pemberton Ryelan F. McDonough

The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), is an important vector for Rickettsia rickettsii, causative agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Current public health prevention and control efforts to protect people involve preventing tick infestations on domestic animals and in and around houses. Primary prevention tools rely on acaricides, often synthetic pyrethroids (SPs); resistance to this chemical class is widespread in ticks and other arthropods. Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. is a complex that likely contains multiple unique species and although the distribution of this complex is global, there are differences in morphology, ecology, and perhaps vector competence among these major lineages. Two major lineages within Rh. sanguineus s.l., commonly referred to as temperate and tropical, have been documented from multiple locations in North America, but are thought to occupy different ecological niches. To evaluate potential acaricide resistance and better define the distributions of the tropical and temperate lineages throughout the US and in northern Mexico, we employed a highly multiplexed amplicon sequencing approach to characterize sequence diversity at: 1) three loci within the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) gene, which contains numerous genetic mutations associated with resistance to SPs; 2) a region of the gamma-aminobutyric acid-gated chloride channel gene (GABA-Cl) containing several mutations associated with dieldrin/fipronil resistance in other species; and 3) three mitochondrial genes (COI, 12S, and 16S). We utilized a geographically diverse set of Rh sanguineus s.l. collected from domestic pets in the US in 2013 and a smaller set of ticks collected from canines in Baja California, Mexico in 2021. We determined that a single nucleotide polymorphism (T2134C) in domain III segment 6 of the VGSC, which has previously been associated with SP resistance in Rh. sanguineus s.l., was widespread and abundant in tropical lineage ticks (>50 %) but absent from the temperate lineage, suggesting that resistance to SPs may be common in the tropical lineage. We found evidence of multiple copies of GABA-Cl in ticks from both lineages, with some copies containing mutations associated with fipronil resistance in other species, but the effects of these patterns on fipronil resistance in Rh. sanguineus s.l. are currently unknown. The tropical lineage was abundant and geographically widespread, accounting for 79 % of analyzed ticks and present at 13/14 collection sites. The temperate and tropical lineages co-occurred in four US states, and as far north as New York. None of the ticks we examined were positive for Rickettsia rickettsii or Rickettsia massiliae.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus

Rhipicephalus microplus

Lineage (genetic)

10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102344

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Citations (3)

Fiebre manchada por rickettsias en el Delta del Parana. Una enfermedad emergente

Alfredo Seijo Marisa Picollo William L. Nicholson Christopher D. Paddock

Rickettsial spotted fever in the Parana Delta. An emerging disease. We describe a case of rickettsial spotted fever in the Parana Delta region of Buenos Aires province in Argentina. The patient developed an acute febrile syndrome characterized by myalgias, headache, asthenia and moderate odynophagia, followed by a diffuse macular, papular, and purpuric exanthema. The patient had been bitten recently by a tick on the left preauricular region and an erosive papular lesion was evident at the bite site. An indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay identified antibodies reactive with spotted fever group rickettsiae in the patient's serum. The patient improved rapidly with doxycycline. Several considerations relating to the identity of the rickettsial species and tick vector are discussed, including the possibility that this patient's illness may have been caused by Rickettsia parkeri.

Boutonneuse fever

Tick-borne disease

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Citations (25)

Flying Squirrel–associated Typhus, United States

Emerging infectious diseases (2003)

Mary G. Reynolds John W. Krebs James A. Comer John W. Sumner Thomas Rushton

Abstract In March 2002, typhus fever was diagnosed in two patients residing in West Virginia and Georgia. Both patients were hospitalized with severe febrile illnesses, and both had been recently exposed to or had physical contact with flying squirrels or flying squirrel nests. Laboratory results indicated Rickettsia prowazekii infection.

Rickettsia prowazekii

10.3201/eid0910.030278

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Citations (57)

Attempted Ehrlichia risticii Transmission with Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae)

Journal of Medical Entomology (1990)

Jay F. Levine Michael G. Levy William L. Nicholson Robin B. Gager

Journal Article Attempted Ehrlichia risticii Transmission with Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae) Get access Jay F. Levine, Jay F. Levine Department of Microbiology, Pathology and Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Michael G. Levy, Michael G. Levy Department of Microbiology, Pathology and Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar William L. Nicholson, William L. Nicholson Department of Microbiology, Pathology and Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Robin B. Gager Robin B. Gager Department of Microbiology, Pathology and Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Journal of Medical Entomology, Volume 27, Issue 5, 1 September 1990, Pages 931–933, https://doi.org/10.1093/jmedent/27.5.931 Published: 01 September 1990 Article history Received: 28 November 1989 Accepted: 12 February 1990 Published: 01 September 1990

Dermacentor variabilis

Dermacentor

Ehrlichiosis

Parasitiformes

10.1093/jmedent/27.5.931

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Citations (16)