The incidence of human tick-borne diseases is rising globally. Birds are ecologically significant hosts, capable of local or widespread dispersal for ticks and their associated pathogens, including agents of babesiosis. Despite its emerging importance, surveillance for zoonotic Babesia spp. ((Starcovici, 1893) Piroplasmida: Babesiidae) remains lacking, particularly in avian hosts. This study investigates the prevalence of Babesia spp. in a population of Carolina Wrens ((Latham, 1790) Passeriformes: Troglodytidae Thryothorus ludovicianus) in Missouri, USA. Due to their ground-foraging behavior and documented high tick burdens, we hypothesized that Carolina Wrens would have Babesia spp. infections. Birds were captured using mist nets, examined for ticks, and phlebotomized for blood samples. We prepared blood smears which were analyzed via microscopy for the presence of Babesia spp. parasites. During June and July 2018, we captured 70 birds from 14 species and collected 156 ticks, of which 152 were Ixodes scapularis ((Say, 1821) Acari: Ixodidae). Carolina Wrens accounted for the highest tick burdens (130 ticks total) with juvenile birds having significantly higher nymphal tick burdens than adults. Despite examining the blood smears of 23 Carolina Wrens and 5 Louisiana Waterthrushes (Parkesia motacilla) for Babesia spp., we found no evidence of infection. Our findings emphasize the notably high tick burdens in Carolina Wrens while underscoring the need for broader and more sensitive surveillance for Babesia spp. in bird populations. Understanding the role of avian hosts in the ecology of tick-borne pathogens is key for anticipating and mitigating public health risks associated with tick-borne disease.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a deadly tick-borne disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii. An ongoing epidemic of RMSF is affecting tribal communities in Arizona, with nearly 500 cases and 28 deaths since 2003. The San Carlos Apache Tribe has been consistently working to prevent RMSF using tick collars on dogs, pesticide treatments around homes, and increasing education for nearly a decade. Besides monitoring human disease levels and tick burden on dogs, we have little understanding of the long-term impact of prevention practices on tick abundance and infection rates in the peridomestic environment. We evaluated risk factors associated for tick infestation at home sites across the San Carlos Indian Reservation as well as R. rickettsii and Rickettsia massiliae prevalence in off-host ticks. Although the presence of fencing appears protective, the number of nearby structures is the most important risk factor associated with increased adult and nymphal tick abundance, highlighting the impact of a free-roaming dog population.

Hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) have been historically identified by morphological methods which require highly specialized expertise and more recently by DNA-based molecular assays that involve high costs. Although both approaches provide complementary data for tick identification, each method has limitations which restrict their use on large-scale settings such as regional or national tick surveillance programs. To overcome those obstacles, the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been introduced as a cost-efficient method for the identification of various organisms, as it balances performance, speed, and high data output. Here we describe the use of this technology to validate the distinction of two closely related Dermacentor tick species based on the development of the first nationwide MALDI-TOF MS reference database described to date. The dataset obtained from this protein-based approach confirms that tick specimens collected from United States regions west of the Rocky Mountains and identified previously as Dermacentor variabilis are the recently described species, Dermacentor similis. Therefore, we propose that this integrative taxonomic tool can facilitate vector and vector-borne pathogen surveillance programs in the United States and elsewhere.

The recovery of a Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann (Acari: Ixodidae) tick from a dog in Benton County, Arkansas, in 2018 triggered a significant environmental sampling effort in Hobbs State Park Conservation Area. The objective of the investigation was to assess the tick population density and diversity, as well as identify potential tick-borne pathogens that could pose a risk to public health. During a week-long sampling period in August of 2018, a total of 6,154 ticks were collected, with the majority identified as Amblyomma americanum (L), (Acari: Ixodidae) commonly known as the lone star tick. No H. longicornis ticks were found despite the initial detection of this species in the area. This discrepancy highlights the importance of continued monitoring efforts to understand the dynamics of tick populations and their movements. The investigation also focused on pathogen detection, with ticks being pooled by species, age, and sex before being processed with various bioassays. The results revealed the presence of several tick-borne pathogens, including agents associated with ehrlichiosis (n = 12), tularemia (n = 2), and Bourbon virus (BRBV) disease (n = 1), as well as nonpathogenic rickettsial and anaplasmosis organisms. These findings emphasize the importance of public health messaging to raise awareness of the risks associated with exposure to tick-borne pathogens. Prevention measures, such as wearing protective clothing, using insect repellent, and conducting regular tick checks, should be emphasized to reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases. Continued surveillance efforts and research are also essential to improve our understanding of tick-borne disease epidemiology and develop effective control strategies.