Display options
Cite
Elliott JA, Dickson CC, Kantar L, et al. PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF ANAPLASMA INFECTIONS IN EASTERN MOOSE (ALCES ALCES AMERICANA) AND WINTER TICKS (DERMACENTOR ALBIPICTUS) IN MAINE, USA. J Wildl Dis. 2021;57(4):844-855doi: 10.7589/JWD-D-21-00020.
Elliott, J. A., Dickson, C. C., Kantar, L., O'Neal, M. R., Lichtenwalner, A., Bryant, A., Jakubas, W. J., Pekins, P. J., De Urioste-Stone, S. M., & Kamath, P. L. (2021). PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF ANAPLASMA INFECTIONS IN EASTERN MOOSE (ALCES ALCES AMERICANA) AND WINTER TICKS (DERMACENTOR ALBIPICTUS) IN MAINE, USA. Journal of wildlife diseases, 57(4), 844-855. https://doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-21-00020
Elliott, James A, et al. "PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF ANAPLASMA INFECTIONS IN EASTERN MOOSE (ALCES ALCES AMERICANA) AND WINTER TICKS (DERMACENTOR ALBIPICTUS) IN MAINE, USA." Journal of wildlife diseases vol. 57,4 (2021): 844-855. doi: https://doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-21-00020
Elliott JA, Dickson CC, Kantar L, O'Neal MR, Lichtenwalner A, Bryant A, Jakubas WJ, Pekins PJ, De Urioste-Stone SM, Kamath PL. PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF ANAPLASMA INFECTIONS IN EASTERN MOOSE (ALCES ALCES AMERICANA) AND WINTER TICKS (DERMACENTOR ALBIPICTUS) IN MAINE, USA. J Wildl Dis. 2021 Oct 01;57(4):844-855. doi: 10.7589/JWD-D-21-00020. PMID: 34424993.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

J Wildl Dis. 2021 Oct 01;57(4):844-855. doi: 10.7589/JWD-D-21-00020.

PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF ANAPLASMA INFECTIONS IN EASTERN MOOSE (ALCES ALCES AMERICANA) AND WINTER TICKS (DERMACENTOR ALBIPICTUS) IN MAINE, USA.

Journal of wildlife diseases

James A Elliott, Carly C Dickson, Lee Kantar, Matthew R O'Neal, Anne Lichtenwalner, Ann Bryant, Walter J Jakubas, Peter J Pekins, Sandra M De Urioste-Stone, Pauline L Kamath

Affiliations

  1. School of Forest Resources, University of Maine, 5755 Nutting Hall, Orono, Maine 04469, USA.
  2. School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, 5735 Hitchner Hall, Orono, Maine 04469, USA.
  3. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 650 State Street, Bangor, Maine 04401, USA.
  4. University of Maine Cooperative Extension, 17 Godfrey Drive, Orono, Maine 04473, USA.
  5. Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, 114 James Hall, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA.

PMID: 34424993 DOI: 10.7589/JWD-D-21-00020

Abstract

Eastern moose (Alces alces americana) are heavily parasitized by winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus), the dominant cause of increased calf mortality in the northeastern US. Although much work has focused on the direct negative effects of winter tick on moose, it remains unknown whether diseases transmitted by ticks may also affect moose health or pose a risk to other species. We explored the role that moose and winter ticks play in transmission of the tick-borne bacterial pathogens, Anaplasma spp., which cause mild to severe illness in humans and domestic animals. Our objectives were to 1) estimate the prevalence of Anaplasma spp. in moose and winter ticks; 2) determine the phylogenetic placement of these strains with respect to those found in other hosts and vectors; and 3) explore risk factors of Anaplasma infection in moose. A total of 157 moose (142 calves, 15 adults) were captured in western (n=83) and northern (n=74) Maine in 2017 and 2018. We screened for Anaplasma spp. in moose whole blood samples using a genus-specific PCR assay targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Over half (54%) of the moose were infected with Anaplasma bacteria, with a greater proportion of moose harboring Anaplasma-infections in the western (67%) versus northern study areas (38%). Male moose exhibited a higher prevalence than did females (63% vs. 47%). In contrast, Anaplasma spp. prevalence in winter ticks was low (<1%). Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the single Anaplasma strain in moose was highly divergent from the strain in winter ticks and most closely related to an uncharacterized North American cervid strain. We conclude that winter ticks are unlikely to play a significant role in Anaplasma transmission to moose; however, high infection prevalence warrants further investigation into the impacts of Anaplasma spp. infection on moose health.

© Wildlife Disease Association 2021.

Keywords: Alces alces ; Anaplasma ; disease transmission; moose; phylogenetics; rickettsia; vector-borne disease; winter tick

Publication Types