Evolution of hematophagy in blood-sucking parasites likely involves communication with their hosts. We find that Ixodes ticks are responsive to IFNγ acquired in a blood meal from mice infected with the Lyme disease-causing bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, leading to induction of antimicrobial responses. Ixodes ticks parasitizing B. burgdorferi-infected mice upregulated an I. scapularis Rho-like G...

To determine whether particular Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. genospecies associate solely with rodent reservoir hosts, we compared the genospecies prevalence in questing nymphal Ixodes ticks with that in xenodiagnostic ticks that had fed as larvae on rodents captured in the same site. No genospecies was more prevalent in rodent-fed ticks than in questing ticks. The three main spirochete genospecie...

To determine whether the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia lusitaniae is associated with lizards, we compared the prevalence and genospecies of spirochetes present in rodent- and lizard-associated ticks at a site where this spirochete frequently infects questing ticks. Whereas questing nymphal Ixodes ricinus ticks were infected mainly by Borrelia afzelii, one-half of the infected adult ticks har...

INTRODUCTION Otoacariasis, the attachment of ticks and mites within the ear canal is a common phenomenon especially in rural areas. OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical and demographic features of cases with detected ticks in the ear canal, which is a common health problem, and identify tick species. METHODS Data of patients who had otoacariasis were collected. We also investigated all ticks...

In African savannas, large mammals, both wild and domestic, support an abundant and diverse population of tick ectoparasites. Because of the density of ticks and the many pathogens that they vector, cattle in East Africa are often treated with acaricides. While acaricides are known to be effective at reducing tick burdens on cattle, their effects on the overall abundance and community compositi...

A total of 1,523 adult Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected from regions where bovine ehrlichiosis is endemic and were examined for Ehrlichia phagocytophila via PCR. Of the ticks from cattle with ehrlichiosis, the ticks from healthy cattle, and the free-living ticks, 26.5% (18 of 68), 4.4% (35 of 802), and 0.8% (5 of 653), respectively, were positive.

The genetic heterogeneity of the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi within single adult black-legged ticks from Shelter Island, N.Y., was determined by cold, single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. The central region of the ospA gene of B. burgdorferi from infected ticks was amplified by nested PCR. Amplified product of the correct size was obtained from 20 to 45 ticks (44%). This...

A species of sea anemone found in shallow water areas of southern Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, but never before reported from Hawaii, is described. It is identified as Actiniogeton sesere, previously recorded and described from the Torres Straits (Haddon and Shackleton 1893). HAWAII'S COELENTERATE FAUNA is poorly known and is in need of serious study. As I have discussed elsewhere (Dunn 1974), the single...