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ARS Home » Plains Area » Kerrville, Texas » Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory » Livestock Arthropod Pest Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #391849
Research Project: Management of Ticks of Veterinary Importance

Location: Livestock Arthropod Pest Research Unit

Title: The Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum (Ixodida: Ixodidae) and spotted fever group Rickettsia in the highly urbanized northeastern US

Author
item BAJWA, W - New York City Department Of Health
item TSYNMAN, L - New York City Department Of Health
item EGIZI, A - Monmouth County
item TOKARZ, R - Columbia University
item Maestas, Lauren
item FONSECA, D - Rutgers University

Submitted to: Journal of Medical Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/9/2022
Publication Date: 5/27/2022
Citation: Bajwa, W.I., Tsynman, L., Egizi, A.M., Tokarz, R., Maestas, L.P., Fonseca, D.M. 2022. The Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum (Ixodida: Ixodidae) and spotted fever group Rickettsia in the highly urbanized northeastern US. Journal of Medical Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjac053.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjac053

Interpretive Summary: We report the multi-year collection of specimens of the Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum in Staten Island, New York City (NYC) as well as their detection in Brooklyn, NYC, and in Atlantic and Cumberland counties in southern NJ, USA. The first detections on all sites were of adults but in Freshkills Park on Staten Island larvae were collected the following year. Based on known observations of this tick species on birds, it is likely A. maculatum are expanding north as nymphs on migratory birds, later molting to adults. The presence of larvae indicates that adults are being successful at finding hosts in Staten Island. We describe the landscape features of the area in Staten Island where populations were highest and larvae were detected, which could have facilitated the establishment of A. maculatum. Notably, we also report the presence of human pathogens Rickettsia parkeri in 5/10 (50%) of adults tested and R. felis in 1/24 (4.17%) of larvae tested. We discuss the consequences to public health of the establishment of A. maculatum and detection of two additional rickettsial pathogens in the densely populated northeastern US.

Technical Abstract: We report the multi-year collection of specimens of the Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum Koch (Acaridae: Ixodida: Ixodidae) in Staten Island, New York City (NYC) as well as their detection in Brooklyn, NYC, and in Atlantic and Cumberland counties in southern NJ, USA. The first detections on all sites were of adults but in Freshkills Park on Staten Island larvae were collected the following year. Based on known observations of this tick species on birds, it is likely A. maculatum are expanding north as nymphs on migratory birds, later molting to adults. The presence of larvae indicates that adults are being successful at finding hosts in Staten Island. We describe the landscape features of the area in Staten Island where populations were highest and larvae were detected, which could have facilitated the establishment of A. maculatum. Notably, we also report the presence of human pathogens Rickettsia parkeri in 5/10 (50%) of adults tested and R. felis in 1/24 (4.17%) of larvae tested. We discuss the consequences to public health of the establishment of A. maculatum and detection of two additional rickettsial pathogens in the densely populated northeastern US.