Entomology Research Laboratory, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405-0105, USA.
Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8536, USA.
J Med Entomol. 2022 Mar 16;59(2):784-787. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjab232.
The soft tick Carios kelleyi (Cooley and Kohls, 1941) is an ectoparasite of bats that can harbor bacteria known to cause disease in humans, such as Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., and relapsing fever Borrelia spp. Human-tick encounters may occur when bats occupy attics or similar dwellings with access points to human-inhabited areas. During May 2021, a partially engorged adult female C. kelleyi was collected from a Vermont home with an attic that was being used as a roost by big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). The source of the blood in the tick was the domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris. Subsequently, eight C. kelleyi larvae were collected from a rescued E. fuscus adult. This is the first report of a soft tick species from Vermont and it is unknown how long C. kelleyi has been present in this state. Reports of C. kelleyi are on the rise across the northeastern United States but the implications for the health of humans, domestic animals, and bats in northern New England remain unclear. Bat management plans should consider the importance of bat exclusion in preventing tick encounters with members of the household and should include a tick monitoring component if bats are evicted.
软蜱 Carios kelleyi（库利和科尔斯，1941 年）是一种蝙蝠的外寄生虫，它可以携带已知会导致人类疾病的细菌，如立克次体属、巴尔通体属和回归热螺旋体属。当蝙蝠占据阁楼或类似的居住场所，并与人类居住区域相通时，可能会发生人与蜱虫的接触。2021 年 5 月，从佛蒙特州一栋阁楼中采集到一只部分饱血的成年雌性 C. kelleyi，该阁楼被大褐蝙蝠（翼手目：蝙蝠科）用作栖息地。蜱虫的血液来源于家犬 Canis lupus familiaris。随后，从一只获救的成年大褐蝙蝠中收集到了 8 只 C. kelleyi 幼虫。这是佛蒙特州首例软蜱种的报告，目前尚不清楚 C. kelleyi 何时在该州出现。在美国东北部，C. kelleyi 的报告数量正在增加，但北新英格兰地区的人类、家畜和蝙蝠的健康状况的影响仍不清楚。蝙蝠管理计划应考虑在防止蜱虫与家庭成员接触时排除蝙蝠的重要性，如果驱逐蝙蝠，应包括蜱虫监测部分。
