Department of Public Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2023 Aug;23(8):401-410. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0005. Epub 2023 Jul 10.
species and sensu lato (Bbsl) are emerging zoonotic pathogens. The vectors and frequency of infections with both pathogen groups in the southern United States is understudied. This study describes an investigation of and Bbsl in yellow flies collected at a residence in northeast Florida, USA, that led to subsequent discoveries of both organisms in lone star ticks () and a human patient. DNA samples from flies, ticks, and human patient blood specimens were tested via polymerase chain reaction assays for or Bbsl species. DNA sequences were compared to reference strains for identification and characterization. An exploratory investigation of arthropod-borne pathogens in yellow flies collected at a residence in northeast Florida revealed the presence of uncharacterized species DNA sequences similar to ones previously detected in two lone star ticks from Virginia. Subsequent testing of several lone star ticks from the area detected similar sequences of in three ticks. Testing of stored blood samples from a resident of the site, who had experienced chronic relapsing and remitting symptoms for over a decade, identified nearly identical DNA sequences in multiple samples collected over a 10-year period. Two lone star ticks and several samples from the same patient and time period also tested positive for DNA, suggesting possible long-term coinfection of the patient with both organisms. This investigation identified highly similar DNA sequences in yellow flies, lone star ticks, and a human patient in northeast Florida. Similarly, DNA was detected in two lone star ticks and multiple specimens from the patient. Positive PCR results from archived patient blood samples documented the presence of both organisms at multiple time points over more than a decade. More studies on human patients with chronic undefined illness and on the presence of and Bbsl in hematophagous arthropods and animal hosts in the southeastern United States are needed.
种和 sensu lato (Bbsl) 是新兴的人畜共患病原体。在美国南部，这两种病原体的媒介和感染频率研究不足。本研究描述了在美国佛罗里达州东北部一个住所采集的黄蝇中对 和 Bbsl 的调查，该调查导致随后在孤星蜱（）和人类患者中发现了这两种生物体。从苍蝇、蜱和人类患者血液样本中提取 DNA 样本，通过聚合酶链反应检测 或 Bbsl 种。对 DNA 序列进行比较，以确定参考株的鉴定和特征。对在美国佛罗里达州东北部一个住所采集的黄蝇中节肢动物传播病原体的探索性调查显示，存在未鉴定的 种 DNA 序列，与之前在弗吉尼亚州的两只孤星蜱中检测到的序列相似。随后对该地区的几只孤星蜱进行的检测发现，有三只有类似的 序列。对该地点居民的储存血液样本进行的检测发现，该居民在十多年来经历了慢性复发缓解症状，在十年期间的多个样本中鉴定出了几乎相同的 DNA 序列。两只孤星蜱和来自同一患者和同一时期的几个样本也对 DNA 检测呈阳性，表明患者可能长期同时感染了这两种生物体。本研究在美国佛罗里达州东北部的黄蝇、孤星蜱和人类患者中发现了高度相似的 DNA 序列。同样，在两只孤星蜱和来自患者的多个样本中也检测到了 DNA。从存档的患者血液样本中获得的阳性 PCR 结果记录了这两种生物体在十多年的多个时间点的存在。需要对患有慢性不明原因疾病的人类患者以及在东南美国的吸血节肢动物和动物宿主中存在 和 Bbsl 进行更多的研究。
