Molaei Goudarz, Karpathy Sandor E, Andreadis Theodore G
1 Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511.
2 Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, P.O. Box 208034, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8034.
J Parasitol. 2019 Aug;105(4):571-575.
Introduction of ticks into the United States that can carry disease-causing pathogens to humans, companion animals, and wildlife has accelerated in recent years, mostly due to globalization, frequency of travel, and a rise in legal and illegal animal trades. We hereby report for the first time introduction of a live fully engorged feeding on a human into the United States from Central America. is geographically distributed in the Neotropical region and reaches the southern states of Mexico. This species is capable of transmitting a number of pathogens of public health and veterinary importance including spotted fever group rickettsiae, raising concern that if it became established in the United States, might also be able to carry these pathogens. Considering the risks of exotic ticks as vectors of numerous pathogens and their potential to establish new populations under conducive climatic and habitat conditions, rigorous inspection practices of imported livestock and pet animals at ports of entry are vital. It is also important for travelers and practitioners to develop a heightened awareness of the public health risks associated with the unintended importation of exotic ticks and the potential such parasites have for breaching United States biosecurity defenses.
近年来，能够将致病病原体传播给人类、伴侣动物和野生动物的蜱虫传入美国的情况有所加速，这主要归因于全球化、旅行频率以及合法和非法动物贸易的增加。我们在此首次报告一只从中美洲进入美国、正在叮咬人类且已完全饱血的活蜱虫。[蜱虫名称]分布于新热带地区，并延伸至墨西哥南部各州。该物种能够传播多种具有公共卫生和兽医重要性的病原体，包括斑点热群立克次体，这引发了人们的担忧，即如果它在美国定殖，可能也能够携带这些病原体。考虑到外来蜱虫作为多种病原体传播媒介的风险以及它们在有利的气候和栖息地条件下建立新种群的潜力，在入境口岸对进口牲畜和宠物进行严格检查至关重要。对于旅行者和从业者而言，提高对与意外引入外来蜱虫相关的公共卫生风险以及此类寄生虫突破美国生物安全防线可能性的认识也很重要。
