Borrelia, Coxiella, and Rickettsia in Carios capensis (Acari: Argasidae) from a brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) rookery in South Carolina, USA

• Published in: Experimental & applied acarology Vol. 39; no. 3-4; pp. 321 - 329
• Main Authors: Reeves, W.K, Loftis, A.D, Sanders, F, Spinks, M.D, Wills, W, Denison, A.M, Dasch, G.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.08.2006; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acari; Animals; Aquatic birds; Argasidae; Argasidae - microbiology; Bartonella; Biological and medical sciences; Birds - parasitology; Borrelia; Borrelia - isolation & purification; Borrelia lonestari; Coxiella; Coxiella - isolation & purification; Deoxyribonucleic acid; disease detection; disease vectors; DNA; DNA sequencing; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; infection; Ixodidae; Larvae; Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control; molecular systematics; Nesting; nesting sites; Nests; Pelecanus; Pelecanus occidentalis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Rickettsia; Rickettsia - isolation & purification; Rickettsia felis; seabirds; South Carolina; tick infestations; Ticks; United States; Vectors; Vectors. Intermediate hosts; South Carolina; United States; North America; America; United States > US; Host parasite relation; Spirochaetaceae; Tick . Pelican . Rickettsia; Acari; Pathogenic; Coxiella . South Carolina; Bacteria; Aves; Nest; Rickettsia; Vector; Nest desertion; Parasitiformes; Spirochaetales; Coxiella; Parasite; Host; Rickettsiales; Infection; Arachnida; Vertebrata; Borrelia; Argasidae; Ixodida; Arthropoda; Pelecanus occidentalis; Rickettsieae; Ectoparasite; Invertebrata; Infestation; Rickettsiaceae
• ISSN: 0168-8162; 1572-9702
• DOI: 10.1007/s10493-006-9012-7

Argasid ticks are vectors of viral and bacterial agents of humans and animals. Carios capensis, a tick of seabirds, infests the nests of brown pelicans, Pelecanus occidentalis, and other ground nesting birds along the coast of South Carolina. This tick is associated with pelican nest abandonment and could pose a threat to humans visiting pelican rookeries if visitors are exposed to ticks harboring infectious agents. We collected ticks from a pelican rookery on Deveaux Bank, South Carolina and screened 64 individual ticks, six pools of larvae, and an egg mass for DNA from Bartonella, Borrelia, Coxiella, and Rickettsia by polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing. Ticks harbored DNA from “Borrelia lonestari”, a novel Coxiella sp., and three species of Rickettsia, including Rickettsia felis and two undescribed Rickettsia spp. DNA from the Coxiella and two undescribed Rickettsia were detected in unfed larvae that emerged in the laboratory, which implies these agents are transmitted vertically by female ticks. We partially characterize the novel Coxiella by molecular means.