Reported County-Level Distribution of Seven Human Pathogens Detected in Host-Seeking Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Contiguous United States. 2022

Amy C Fleshman, and Erik Foster, and Sarah E Maes, and Rebecca J Eisen
Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA.

Tickborne disease cases account for over 75% of reported vector-borne disease cases in the United States each year. In addition to transmitting the agents of Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu strict [Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae] and Borrelia mayonii [Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae]), the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, and the western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus collectively transmit five additional human pathogens. By mapping the distributions of tickborne pathogens in host-seeking ticks, we can understand where humans are at risk of contracting tickborne diseases and devise targeted strategies to prevent them. Using publicly available tickborne pathogen surveillance databases, internal CDC pathogen testing databases, and SCOPUS search records published since 2000, we mapped the county-level distribution of Borrelia miyamotoi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae), Ehrlichia muris eauclairensis (Rickettsiales: Ehrlichiaceae), Babesia microti (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae), and Powassan virus (Flaviviridae) reported in host-seeking I. scapularis or I. pacificus in the contiguous United States. We also updated recently published maps of the distributions of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Borrelia mayonii. All seven pathogen distributions were more limited than the distributions of vector ticks, with at least one of the seven pathogens detected in 30 states out of 41 total states (73.2% of states) where vector ticks are considered to be established. Prevention and diagnosis of tickborne diseases rely on an accurate understanding by the public and health care providers of where people are at risk for exposure to infected ticks. Our county-level pathogen distribution maps expand on previous efforts showing the distribution of Lyme disease spirochetes and highlight counties where further investigation may be warranted.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008193 Lyme Disease An infectious disease caused by a spirochete, BORRELIA BURGDORFERI, which is transmitted chiefly by Ixodes dammini (see IXODES) and pacificus ticks in the United States and Ixodes ricinis (see IXODES) in Europe. It is a disease with early and late cutaneous manifestations plus involvement of the nervous system, heart, eye, and joints in variable combinations. The disease was formerly known as Lyme arthritis and first discovered at Old Lyme, Connecticut. Lyme Borreliosis,B. burgdorferi Infection,Borrelia burgdorferi Infection,Lyme Arthritis,Arthritis, Lyme,B. burgdorferi Infections,Borrelia burgdorferi Infections,Borreliosis, Lyme,Disease, Lyme
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013144 Spirochaetales An order of slender, flexuous, helically coiled bacteria, with one or more complete turns in the helix. Spirochetes,Spirochete
D014481 United States A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D017282 Tick-Borne Diseases Bacterial, viral, or parasitic diseases transmitted to humans and animals by the bite of infected ticks. The families Ixodidae and Argasidae contain many bloodsucking species that are important pests of man and domestic birds and mammals and probably exceed all other arthropods in the number and variety of disease agents they transmit. Many of the tick-borne diseases are zoonotic. Tick Borne Disease,Tick-Borne Infection,Infections, Tick-Borne,Tick-Borne Infections,Borne Disease, Tick,Borne Diseases, Tick,Disease, Tick Borne,Disease, Tick-Borne,Diseases, Tick Borne,Diseases, Tick-Borne,Infection, Tick-Borne,Infections, Tick Borne,Tick Borne Diseases,Tick Borne Infection,Tick Borne Infections,Tick-Borne Disease
D018884 Ixodes The largest genus of TICKS in the family IXODIDAE, containing over 200 species. Many infest humans and other mammals and several are vectors of diseases such as LYME DISEASE; ENCEPHALITIS, TICK-BORNE; and KYASANUR FOREST DISEASE. Black-legged Tick,Blacklegged Tick,California Black Legged Tick,Castor Bean Tick,Deer Tick,Ixodes dammini,Ixodes pacificus,Ixodes persulcatus,Ixodes ricinus,Ixodes scapularis,Western Black Legged Tick,Western Blacklegged Tick,Black legged Tick,Black-legged Ticks,Blacklegged Tick, Western,Blacklegged Ticks,Castor Bean Ticks,Deer Ticks,Ixodes damminus,Ixodes scapulari,Tick, Black-legged,Tick, Blacklegged,Tick, Castor Bean,Tick, Deer,Tick, Western Blacklegged,Western Blacklegged Ticks
D025065 Borrelia burgdorferi A specific species of bacteria, part of the BORRELIA BURGDORFERI GROUP, whose common name is Lyme disease spirochete. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto,Lyme Disease Spirochete
D026863 Ixodidae A family of hardbacked TICKS, in the subclass ACARI. Genera include DERMACENTOR and IXODES among others. Ticks, Hardbacked,Hard Ticks,Hard Tick,Hardbacked Tick,Hardbacked Ticks,Tick, Hard,Tick, Hardbacked,Ticks, Hard
D041081 Anaplasma phagocytophilum A species of gram-negative bacteria in the genus ANAPLASMA, family ANAPLASMATACEAE, formerly called Ehrlichia phagocytophila or Ehrlichia equi. This organism is tick-borne (IXODES) and causes disease in horses and sheep. In humans, it causes human granulocytic EHRLICHIOSIS. Cytoecetes phagocytophila,Ehrlichia equi,Ehrlichia phagocytophila,HGE Agent

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