by Kristine Bentkowski, Joshua Loomis, & Nicole Chinnici
POW virus lineage I is transmitted by the groundhog tick (Ixodes cookei) and tends to produce more severe symptoms, more frequently than lineage II. Lineage II is transmitted by the blacklegged deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) and is referred to as the deer tick virus (DTV). Unfortunately, not much research exists regarding POW virus lineage I or II.
Current research suggests a high co-infection rate of blacklegged ticks with both Lyme disease and DTV. With blacklegged tick populations and the number of Lyme disease cases on the rise in the Northeast United States, it is important to determine the prevalence of infected ticks and determine the rate of co-infection with POW virus lineage II and Lyme disease.
In this ongoing study, ticks were collected from black bears (Ursus americanus) in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and tested for the presence of Lyme disease and POW virus lineage II. To confirm infection, a TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to detect the 16S-23S intergenic spacer specific for Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, and a SYBR green reverse transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction assay was used to detect the NS5 gene specific for POW virus lineage II.
Additionally, the average tick load on black bears will be analyzed to determine their role in hosting, transporting, and spreading tick borne pathogens. The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife and Pennsylvania Game Commission are active contributors to this study.
Results of this study will be available upon completion of testing. For more information on this project please email Wildlife DNA.
By Kacie Chern
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used to compare urinary bladder, heart, spleen and ear biopsy samples from white-footed mice for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.
Urinary bladder samples led to a significantly higher estimate of infection.
This suggests that the use of different tissue types in epidemiological studies of B. burgdorferi in an endemic site is likely to lead to underestimates of the prevalence.
By Robert Heil
Exposure of free-living infective stages of parasites to contaminants may be important in affecting prevalence and intensity of parasite infections.
This study investigated whether atrazine, an herbicide commonly used in North America, affected the cercariae and metacercariae of Sphaeridiotrema globulus, a digenetic trematode.
By Larry L. Laubach
Haemogregarines are intraerythrocytic parasites, of the phylum Apicomplexa, which commonly infect turtles.
Studies on the prevalence of these infections throughout North America have shown differences between turtle species.
Attempts to explain these differences have pointed to morphology and behaviors which influence the turtle’s susceptibility to the invertebrate host and vector, the leech Placobdella ornata>.
This study, conducted at ponds and lakes within the Delaware River basin, examined blood films from 493 turtles.
Species level prevalence was reported for the basking species Chrysemys picta and Trachemys scripta; and the non-basking species Chelydra serpentina and Sternotherus odoratus.
Differences in Prevalence and parasitemia of Haemogregarine infection were consistent with values previously reported.
Differences in hemogregarine intensity and leech parasitism were observed between the non-basking species which conflict with previous hypotheses on the factors influencing haemogregarine infection in turtles.
Additionally the leech P. ornata was not found, suggesting a vector not previously reported.
By Shawqui Darwish
parasites of animals and humans that cause babesiosis, a zoonotic disease transmitted primarily by ticks.
Although a variety of species or types of Babesia have been described in the literature as causing infection in humans, the rodent parasite Babesia microti has emerged as the focal point of human disease in the United States.
In this study, American black bears (Ursus americanus) in NJ were live-trapped and blood samples were taken from 2006 to 2014.
Throughout this period some animals were first time captures and others were recaptures.
DNA extraction was performed on all samples and amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using genus specific primers.
Sixty-four black bears were evaluated.
Of the 22 bears that tested positive for Babesia at baseline, 41% (9/22) cleared the infection and 59% (13/22) persisted with the infection at follow-up.
Of the remaining 41 bears that tested negative for Babesia at baseline, 69% (29/42) remained free of infection and 31% (13/42) acquired infection at follow-up.
All positive samples were sequenced to determine the species of Babesia infecting the black bears. Sequencing analysis revealed that American black bears may acquire chronic infections from the same species of Babesia overtime.
This represents the first longitudinal study conducted on American black bears infected with Babesia spp. and suggests that black bears may be well adapted to babesial infections in regions endemic for tick-borne pathogens.
(Borrelia burgdorferi) and relapsing fever (B. miyamotoi) share a common tick vector (Ixodes scapularis Say) and rodent reservoir (Peromyscus leucopus).
The prevalence of B. burgdorferi and B. miyamotoi in I. scapularis and P. leucopus was investigated from sites in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Borrelia burgdorferi and B. miyamotoi DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of splenic tissue.
PCR analysis of Ixodes scapularis ticks collected in PA identified infections with Borrelia burgdorferi.
This research is the first detection of Borrelia miyamotoi in PA Ixodes scapularis and Peromyscus leucopus.
Understanding the prevalence of Borrelia and other tick-borne pathogens in ticks is crucial for locating high-risk areas of disease transmission.
By Nikolai Kolba
Babesia sp. is a piroplasm that infects red blood cells. Over 100 species of Babesia have been identified and human babesiosis is an increasing health concern in the northeastern United States.
The parasite is vectored by Ixodes scapularis ticks. We sampled river otters, muskrats, beavers and mink in Pennsylvania and New Jersey to determine if Babesia spp. was present using the polymerase chain reaction.
The prevalence of Babesia spp. in otters was 75%, in muskrats 65%, in beaver 29%, and in mink <10%.
The species of Babesia was determined by sequencing the 18s ribosomal fragment.
By Clay Steber, Nicole Chinnici, Justin Brown
Babesia odocoilei is a tick-borne protozoal parasite that infects the erythrocytes of members of the family Cervidae. Babesia odocoilei infection can cause hemolytic anemia and mortality within elk populations. Due to the isolated nature of PA elk populations they are at high risk for population decline.
In this study, blood samples were examined to determine the prevalence of Babesia odocoilei infections in harvested Pennsylvania elk. Samples were collected by the Pennsylvania Game Commission during the 2016 and 2017 Annual Pennsylvania Elk Hunt in four counties of central Pennsylvania; Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, and Centre County.
Total genomic DNA was extracted from 190 blood samples and analyzed using a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which targeted the 18S rRNA gene for Babesia species. Samples that came back positive were then sequenced to confirm species as Babesia odocoilei.
Results of this study are pending publication, and as such will not be available until after publication has occurred. For more information on this project please email wildlifedna@esu.edu.
