Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Varela-Stokes, Andrea S.

Committee Member

Panuska, Carla

Committee Member

Pinchuk, Lesya

Date of Degree

12-11-2009

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Veterinary Medical Science

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Veterinary Medicine

Department

Veterinary Medical Science Program

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the presence of tick-borne bacterial agents in Amblyomma americanum, lone star tick (LST), and various wildlife in Mississippi. Adult LSTs had DNA evidence of Ehrlichia chaffeensis (3.7%), E. ewingii (6.3%), and Borrelia lonestari (2.6%), while both larval (24.3%) and adult (43.5%) LSTs were positive for a Rickettsia spp. by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). White-tailed deer (WTD) were the only wildlife PCR positive for E. chaffeensis (18.8%), B. lonestari (3.1%), and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (3.1%). In addition, WTD had the highest seroprevalence to B. lonestari (19.3%) and E. chaffeensis (43.9%) antigens while raccoons had the highest seroprevalence to spotted fever group rickettsiae (R. parkeri antigen) (73.7%). These studies demonstrate evidence of potentially zoonotic tick-borne agents in LSTs and wildlife in Mississippi underscoring the importance of monitoring these agents for human and animal health.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/17060

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