1 Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison, Wisconsin.
2 Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services , Madison, Wisconsin.
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2017 Apr;17(4):229-236. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2016.2055. Epub 2017 Jan 5.
Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis are important emerging tickborne zoonoses that affect both humans and animals. Knowledge of the geographic distribution and prevalence of Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Wisconsin is important information as a baseline for future comparisons. Reported human cases between 2009 and 2015 were identified using the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WEDSS) and mapped by county of residence. Vector surveillance was established using ticks collected from animals by partners, including veterinary medical clinics, domestic animal shelters, and wildlife rehabilitation centers from 40 Wisconsin counties. A total of 1835 Ixodes scapularis tick specimens (larvae, nymphs, and adults) were collected from 18 different domestic and wildlife species from July 2011 to November 2015. An additional 1136 nymphs were collected by drag sampling at 23 locations in 19 counties in 2015. A real-time PCR assay that detects and distinguishes several Ehrlichia species, including a pathogenic Ehrlichia muris-like agent (EMLA), and A. phagocytophilum was performed on adult and nymphal ticks. A total of 757 I. scapularis ticks (predominately adults) were tested from animal collections, with 67 (8.9%) individuals positive for A. phagocytophilum and 22 (2.9%) positive for EMLA DNA. Of the 1150 questing nymphs, 62 (5.4%) were positive for A. phagocytophilum and 10 (0.9%) were positive for EMLA DNA. Specimens of I. scapularis that were positive for A. phagocytophilum were found in 27 of the 33 counties surveyed. Specimens that were positive for EMLA were less common and were found in nine counties. This study provides the first statewide survey of I. scapularis ticks for these pathogens and indicates that the risk of human exposure is widely distributed.
埃立克体病和无形体病是两种重要的新兴蜱传动物源性疾病，影响人类和动物。了解威斯康星州埃立克体属和嗜吞噬细胞无形体的地理分布和流行情况是非常重要的，这是未来比较的基础。利用威斯康星州电子疾病监测系统（WEDSS）报告了 2009 年至 2015 年间的人类病例，并按居住县进行了地图绘制。通过合作伙伴（包括兽医诊所、家养动物收容所和野生动物康复中心）从威斯康星州 40 个县收集的动物身上采集的蜱进行了媒介监测。从 2011 年 7 月至 2015 年 11 月，共从 18 种不同的家养和野生动物中采集了 1835 只肩突硬蜱（幼虫、若虫和成虫）标本。2015 年，在 19 个县的 23 个地点，通过拖拉采样收集了 1136 只若虫。对从动物采集的成虫和若虫进行了实时 PCR 检测，以检测和区分几种埃立克体属，包括一种致病性的鼠埃立克体样病原体（EMLA）和嗜吞噬细胞无形体。从动物采集的 757 只肩突硬蜱（主要是成虫）进行了检测，67 只（8.9%）对嗜吞噬细胞无形体呈阳性，22 只（2.9%）对 EMLA DNA 呈阳性。在 1150 只采集的若虫中，62 只（5.4%）对嗜吞噬细胞无形体呈阳性，10 只（0.9%）对 EMLA DNA 呈阳性。在调查的 33 个县中，有 27 个县发现了对嗜吞噬细胞无形体呈阳性的肩突硬蜱标本。对 EMLA 呈阳性的标本较少见，在 9 个县发现。本研究提供了威斯康星州首例针对这些病原体的肩突硬蜱的全州调查，表明人类接触的风险广泛存在。
