Reservoir Competence of the Redwood Chipmunk (Tamias Ochrogenys) forAnaplasma Phagocytophilum
- 1 December 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Mary Ann Liebert Inc in Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases
- Vol. 9 (6), 573-577
- https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2008.0142
Abstract
Granulocytic anaplasmosis (GA) is an emerging tick-transmitted disease that persists in rodent- Ixodes ricinus-complex tick cycles across the Holarctic. Although the putative reservoir for anaplasmosis in the western United States is the dusky-footed woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes), this rodent was not shown reservoir-competent because of failure of infection from woodrats to other animals via ticks. Redwood chipmunks are common in habitats where Anaplasma phagocytophilum is common, have high PCR- and seroprevalence, and are infested with a diversity of Ixodes spp. ticks. Experimental infection of seven wild-caught A. phagocytophilum-negative redwood chipmunks induced persistent periods of recurrent rickettsemia during the persistent phase of infection. Of three animals for which xenodiagnosis was attempted, all successfully infected pools of I. pacificus larvae during the primary rickettsemia. We show that chipmunks are reservoir-competent for GA and may be important for maintaining infection in nature.Keywords
This publication has 35 references indexed in Scilit:
- Anaplasma phagocytophilumInfection in Small Mammal Hosts ofIxodesTicks, Western United StatesEmerging Infectious Diseases, 2008
- Differential Exposure toAnaplasma phagocytophilumin Rodent Species in Northern CaliforniaVector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2008
- Structure of the Expression Site Reveals Global Diversity in MSP2 (P44) Variants in Anaplasma phagocytophilumInfection and Immunity, 2006
- Climate, Deer, Rodents, and Acorns as Determinants of Variation in Lyme-Disease RiskPLoS Biology, 2006
- Use of Real-Time Quantitative PCR Targeting themsp2Protein Gene to Identify CrypticAnaplasma phagocytophilumInfections in Wildlife and Domestic AnimalsVector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2006
- Transmission Route Efficacy and Kinetics of AnaplasmaphagocytophilumInfection in the White-Footed Mouse,Peromyscus leucopusVector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 2004
- Seasonal Dynamics ofAnaplasmaphagocytophilain a Rodent-Tick (Ixodes trianguliceps) System, United KingdomEmerging Infectious Diseases, 2003
- Antigenic Variation of Anaplasma Marginale : Major Surface Protein 2 Diversity during Cyclic Transmission between Ticks and CattleInfection and Immunity, 2001
- Transmission of the Agent of Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis byIxodes spinipalpisTicks: Evidence of an Enzootic Cycle of Dual Infection withBorrelia burgdorferiin Northern ColoradoThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2000
- Human Ehrlichiosis: Review of Clinical Disease and Epidemiology for the PhysicianInfectious Diseases in Clinical Practice, 2000