Note on Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, and “Borrelia lonestari” infection in lone star ticks (Acari: Ixodidae), Nebraska, USA

Authors

Amanda C. Maegli, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
J. Dustin Loy, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Roberto Cortinas, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2015

Citation

Published in Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 7 (2016), pp. 154–158.

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.10.008

Comments

Copyright © 2015 2015 Elsevier GmbH. Used by permission.

Abstract

The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae), is established in southeastern Nebraska yet the prevalence of tick-associated microorganisms is not known. An initial PCR-based analysis for Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, and Borrelia infection in host-seeking adult ticks collected in southeast Nebraska was conducted. A total of 251 adult ticks collected in six sites in southeast Nebraska were tested. E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, and Borrelia spp. were present, and the prevalence of each was approximately 1.6%. This study demonstrates that Ehrlichia spp. are present in Nebraska lone star tick populations.