Johnson Tammi L, Graham Christine B, Boegler Karen A, Cherry Cara C, Maes Sarah E, Pilgard Mark A, Hojgaard Andrias, Buttke Danielle E, Eisen Rebecca J
Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (
Biological Resources Division, Wildlife Health Branch and Office of Public Health, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Dr., Suite 200, Fort Collins, CO 80525 (
J Med Entomol. 2017 May 1;54(3):742-751. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjw213.
Tick-borne pathogens transmitted by Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae), also known as the deer tick or blacklegged tick, are increasing in incidence and geographic distribution in the United States. We examined the risk of tick-borne disease exposure in 9 national parks across six Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic States and the District of Columbia in 2014 and 2015. To assess the recreational risk to park visitors, we sampled for ticks along frequently used trails and calculated the density of I. scapularis nymphs (DON) and the density of infected nymphs (DIN). We determined the nymphal infection prevalence of I. scapularis with a suite of tick-borne pathogens including Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia microti. Ixodes scapularis nymphs were found in all national park units; DON ranged from 0.40 to 13.73 nymphs per 100 m2. Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, was found at all sites where I. scapularis was documented; DIN with B. burgdorferi ranged from 0.06 to 5.71 nymphs per 100 m2. Borrelia miyamotoi and A. phagocytophilum were documented at 60% and 70% of the parks, respectively, while Ba. microti occurred at just 20% of the parks. Ixodes scapularis is well established across much of the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic States, and our results are generally consistent with previous studies conducted near the areas we sampled. Newly established I. scapularis populations were documented in two locations: Washington, D.C. (Rock Creek Park) and Greene County, Virginia (Shenandoah National Park). This research demonstrates the potential risk of tick-borne pathogen exposure in national parks and can be used to educate park visitors about the importance of preventative actions to minimize tick exposure.
由肩突硬蜱（Ixodes scapularis Say，蜱螨亚纲：硬蜱科）传播的蜱媒病原体，也被称为鹿蜱或黑脚蜱，在美国的发病率和地理分布正在增加。我们在2014年和2015年对东北部和大西洋中部六个州以及哥伦比亚特区的9个国家公园中蜱媒疾病暴露风险进行了调查。为了评估公园游客的娱乐风险，我们在常用步道沿线采集蜱虫样本，并计算肩突硬蜱若虫密度（DON）和感染若虫密度（DIN）。我们用一组蜱媒病原体，包括伯氏疏螺旋体（Borrelia burgdorferi）、宫本疏螺旋体（Borrelia miyamotoi）、嗜吞噬细胞无形体（Anaplasma phagocytophilum）和微小巴贝斯虫（Babesia microti），测定了肩突硬蜱若虫的感染率。在所有国家公园单位都发现了肩突硬蜱若虫；DON范围为每100平方米0.40至13.73只若虫。莱姆病病原体伯氏疏螺旋体在所有记录到肩突硬蜱的地点均有发现；感染伯氏疏螺旋体的DIN范围为每100平方米0.06至5.71只若虫。宫本疏螺旋体和嗜吞噬细胞无形体分别在60%和70%的公园中被记录到，而微小巴贝斯虫仅在20%的公园中出现。肩突硬蜱在东北部和大西洋中部的大部分地区已广泛存在，我们的结果与在我们采样区域附近进行的先前研究基本一致。在两个地点记录到了新建立的肩突硬蜱种群：华盛顿特区（岩溪公园）和弗吉尼亚州格林县（谢南多厄国家公园）。这项研究证明了国家公园中蜱媒病原体暴露的潜在风险，可用于教育公园游客采取预防措施以尽量减少蜱虫暴露的重要性。
