Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases
Tick-Borne Disease Agents in Various Wildlife from Mississippi
____________________________________
To cite this article:
Ashley H. Castellaw, Erle F. Chenney, Andrea S. Varela-Stokes.
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. -Not available-, ahead of print.
doi:10.1089/vbz.2009.0221.
Full Text: • _HTML_
(http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/full/10.1089/vbz.2009.0221) • _PDF for printing_
(http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/vbz.2009.0221) (86.9 KB) • _PDF w/ links_
(http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/vbz.2009.0221) (87.7 KB)
Ashley H. Castellaw, Erle F. Chenney, and Andrea S. Varela-Stokes
Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi
State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi.
Address correspondence to:
Andrea S. Varela-Stokes
Department of Basic Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS 39762
E-mail:
Abstract
Because tick-borne diseases are becoming increasingly important throughout
the world, monitoring their causative agents in wildlife may serve as a
useful indicator of potential human exposure. We assessed the presence of
known and putative zoonotic, tick-borne agents in four wildlife species in
Mississippi. Animals were tested for exposure to or infection with Ehrlichia
chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, Borrelia lonestari, Rickettsia spp.,
Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Francisella tularensis
. Whole blood and serum were tested from white-tailed deer (WTD;
Odocoileus virginianus) and feral swine (Sus scrofa); serum was tested from raccoons
(Procyon lotor) and opossums (Didelphis virginiana). We used polymerase
chain reaction to detect all agents in blood, whereas an indirect fluorescent
antibody assay was used to detect antibodies to E. chaffeensis, B.
lonestari, and Rickettsia parkeri (spotted fever group rickettsiae) antigens in
serum.
Molecular evidence of infection with E. chaffeensis, B. lonestari, and An.
phagocytophilum was detected only in WTD. Antibodies to E. chaffeensis
antigen were detected in 43.9% of WTD, 32.8% of swine, 42.1% of raccoons, and
15.8% of opossums. Serologic evidence of exposure to B. lonestari antigen
was found in 19.3% of WTD, 6.9% of swine, and 5.3% of raccoons, but not in
opossums. Interestingly, the percent of animals with antibodies reactive to
spotted fever group rickettsiae (R. parkeri antigen) was highest in
raccoons (73.7%) and opossums (57.9%). These results support the role of WTD as
reservoirs for E. chaffeensis, B. lonestari, and An. phagocytophilum, as well
as provide additional evidence for exposure of raccoons and opossums to E.
chaffeensis. Finally, we provide new data that feral swine may have
antibodies to these agents.
Thus, in general, these four wildlife species are exposed to tick-borne
disease agents in Mississippi, suggesting that ticks carry and have the
potential to transmit the agents to humans in the state.
[Note: they only looked for Borrelia lonestari, not any other species of
borrelia.]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Peacefulmind.com Sponsors Alternative Answers-
HEALING NATURALLY- Learn preventative and curative measure to take for many ailments at:
http://www.peacefulmind.com/ailments.htm
____________________________________________
-To INVITE A FRIEND to our healing community, copy and paste this address in an email to them:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AlternativeAnswers/subs_invite
___________________________________________
To ADD A LINK, RESOURCE, OR WEBSITE to Alternative Answers please Go to:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AlternativeAnswers/links
_____________________________________________
Community email addresses:
Post message: AlternativeAnswers@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: AlternativeAnswers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: AlternativeAnswers-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
List owner: AlternativeAnswers-owner@yahoogroups.com
_________________________________________
Shortcut URL to this page:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AlternativeAnswers
No comments:
Post a Comment