Presence of Babesia odocoilei and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Stricto in a Tick and Dual Parasitism of Amblyomma inornatum and Ixodes scapularis on a Bird in Canada

Scott, John D.; Clark, Kerry L.; Durden, Lance A.

doi:10.3390/healthcare7010046

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Presence of Babesia odocoilei and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Stricto in a Tick and Dual Parasitism of Amblyomma inornatum and Ixodes scapularis on a Bird in Canada

John D. Scott

^1,*,

Kerry L. Clark

² and

Lance A. Durden

International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, 2 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 700, Chevy Chase, MD 20185-7007, USA

Environmental Epidemiology Research Laboratory, Department of Public Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA

Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30458, USA

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Healthcare 2019, 7(1), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare7010046

Received: 11 February 2019 / Revised: 12 March 2019 / Accepted: 13 March 2019 / Published: 20 March 2019

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lyme Disease and Related Tickborne Infections)

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Abstract

Wild birds transport ticks into Canada that harbor a diversity of zoonotic pathogens. However, medical practitioners often question how these zoonotic pathogens are present in their locality. In this study, we provide the first report of an Amblyomma inornatum tick cofeeding with a blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, which parasitized a Veery, Catharus fuscescens—a neotropical songbird. Using the flagellin (flaB) gene of the Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, and the 18S rRNA gene of the Babesia piroplasm, a malaria-like microorganism, we detected Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Babesia odocoilei, respectively, in an I. scapularis nymph. After the molt, these ticks can bite humans. Furthermore, this is the first documentation of B. odocoilei in a tick parasitizing a bird. Our findings substantiate the fact that migratory songbirds transport neotropical ticks long distances, and import them into Canada during northward spring migration. Health care practitioners need to be aware that migratory songbirds transport pathogen-laden ticks into Canada annually, and pose an unforeseen health risk to Canadians. View Full-Text

Keywords: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto; Lyme disease; Babesia; babesiosis; 18S rRNA gene; ticks; birds; ectoparasite; tick-borne pathogens

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MDPI and ACS Style

Scott, J.D.; Clark, K.L.; Durden, L.A. Presence of Babesia odocoilei and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Stricto in a Tick and Dual Parasitism of Amblyomma inornatum and Ixodes scapularis on a Bird in Canada. Healthcare 2019, 7, 46. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare7010046

AMA Style

Scott JD, Clark KL, Durden LA. Presence of Babesia odocoilei and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Stricto in a Tick and Dual Parasitism of Amblyomma inornatum and Ixodes scapularis on a Bird in Canada. Healthcare. 2019; 7(1):46. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare7010046

Chicago/Turabian Style

Scott, John D., Kerry L. Clark, and Lance A. Durden. 2019. "Presence of Babesia odocoilei and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Stricto in a Tick and Dual Parasitism of Amblyomma inornatum and Ixodes scapularis on a Bird in Canada" Healthcare 7, no. 1: 46. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare7010046

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Presence of Babesia odocoilei and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Stricto in a Tick and Dual Parasitism of Amblyomma inornatum and Ixodes scapularis on a Bird in Canada

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