Evidence for transmission of the zoonotic apicomplexan parasite Babesia duncani by the tick Dermacentor albipictus

by | CIRS, Lyme Disease & Atypical Infections

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0020751918302431?via%3Dihub

Comment; Molecular evidence that Babesia duncani, the causative agent of Babessiosis is carried by Dermacentor albipictus, the winter tick, in which the common mule deer is a common reservoir host. Another disease pinned down!

AndreaSweiaKerry E.O’ConnoraLisa I.CouperaJoseThekkiniathbPatricia A.ConradcKerry A.PadgettdJosephBurnsdMelissa H.YoshimizudBenGonzaleseBrandonMunkeNicholasShirkeyeLoraKondeeChoukriBen MamounbRobert S.LanefAnneKjemtrupdShow morehttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.07.002Get rights and content

Highlights

Babesiosis in the western US is caused by Babesia duncani whose enzootic cycle has not been previously described.•

We provide molecular evidence that the vector of B. duncani may be the winter tick Dermacentor albipictus.•

We detected high parasite prevalence in mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus, suggesting this is an important reservoir host.•

For the first time since B. duncani was identified, we propose an enzootic transmission cycle of this zoonotic parasite.

Abstract

Babesiosis is a potentially fatal tick-borne zoonotic disease caused by a species complex of blood parasites that can infect a variety of vertebrates, particularly dogs, cattle, and humans. In the United States, human babesiosis is caused by two distinct parasites, Babesia microti and Babesia duncani. The enzootic cycle of B. microti, endemic in the northeastern and upper midwestern regions, has been well characterised. In the western United States, however, the natural reservoir host and tick vector have not been identified for B. duncani, greatly impeding efforts to understand and manage this zoonotic disease. Two and a half decades after B. duncani was first described in a human patient in Washington State, USA, we provide evidence that the enzootic tick vector is the winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus, and the reservoir host is likely the mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus. The broad, overlapping ranges of these two species covers a large portion of far-western North America, and is consistent with confirmed cases of B. duncani in the far-western United States.

Graphical abstract

Dr. Raymond Oenbrink
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