Detection of <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> DNA in Deer Keds: Massachusetts, USA
Deer keds (<i>Lipoptena</i> spp. and <i>Neolipoptena ferrisi</i>) are hematophagous ectoparasites that primarily infest white-tailed deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>) and other cervids in the United States. The distribution of deer keds in the northeastern Unit...
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2025-01-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| author | Patrick Pearson Guang Xu Eric L. Siegel Mileena Ryan Connor Rich Martin J. R. Feehan Blake Dinius Shaun M. McAuliffe Patrick Roden-Reynolds Stephen M. Rich |
| author_facet | Patrick Pearson Guang Xu Eric L. Siegel Mileena Ryan Connor Rich Martin J. R. Feehan Blake Dinius Shaun M. McAuliffe Patrick Roden-Reynolds Stephen M. Rich |
| author_sort | Patrick Pearson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Deer keds (<i>Lipoptena</i> spp. and <i>Neolipoptena ferrisi</i>) are hematophagous ectoparasites that primarily infest white-tailed deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>) and other cervids in the United States. The distribution of deer keds in the northeastern United States and the pathogens they harbor remains relatively unexplored. In this study, we examined the geographical distribution and pathogen prevalence of deer keds in Massachusetts by collecting samples from white-tailed deer and testing for tick-borne pathogens. Deer keds were collected across the state, including in four previously unrecorded counties, indicating a wide distribution. Pathogen screening revealed the presence of <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> DNA in 30% of the keds, but no other pathogens were detected. The medical and biological significance of detecting <i>A. phagocytophilum</i> DNA in deer keds requires future studies. This research provides a baseline for the distribution and pathogen prevalence of deer keds in Massachusetts and highlights the potential of deer keds as sentinels for monitoring deer-associated microbes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-146bf4c6de1a47688fe807a46c85d157 |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj-art-146bf4c6de1a47688fe807a46c85d1572025-01-24T13:35:41ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-01-011614210.3390/insects16010042Detection of <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> DNA in Deer Keds: Massachusetts, USAPatrick Pearson0Guang Xu1Eric L. Siegel2Mileena Ryan3Connor Rich4Martin J. R. Feehan5Blake Dinius6Shaun M. McAuliffe7Patrick Roden-Reynolds8Stephen M. Rich9Laboratory of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USALaboratory of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USALaboratory of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USALaboratory of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USALaboratory of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USANew England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USAPlymouth County Extension, Plymouth, MA 02360, USAHopkinton Health Department, Hopkinton, MA 01748, USAMartha’s Vineyard Tick-Borne Illness Reduction Initiative, Edgartown, MA 02539, USALaboratory of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USADeer keds (<i>Lipoptena</i> spp. and <i>Neolipoptena ferrisi</i>) are hematophagous ectoparasites that primarily infest white-tailed deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>) and other cervids in the United States. The distribution of deer keds in the northeastern United States and the pathogens they harbor remains relatively unexplored. In this study, we examined the geographical distribution and pathogen prevalence of deer keds in Massachusetts by collecting samples from white-tailed deer and testing for tick-borne pathogens. Deer keds were collected across the state, including in four previously unrecorded counties, indicating a wide distribution. Pathogen screening revealed the presence of <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> DNA in 30% of the keds, but no other pathogens were detected. The medical and biological significance of detecting <i>A. phagocytophilum</i> DNA in deer keds requires future studies. This research provides a baseline for the distribution and pathogen prevalence of deer keds in Massachusetts and highlights the potential of deer keds as sentinels for monitoring deer-associated microbes.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/42deer keds<i>Lipoptena</i>white-tailed deer<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i><i>Anaplasma</i>ectoparasites |
| spellingShingle | Patrick Pearson Guang Xu Eric L. Siegel Mileena Ryan Connor Rich Martin J. R. Feehan Blake Dinius Shaun M. McAuliffe Patrick Roden-Reynolds Stephen M. Rich Detection of <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> DNA in Deer Keds: Massachusetts, USA Insects deer keds <i>Lipoptena</i> white-tailed deer <i>Odocoileus virginianus</i> <i>Anaplasma</i> ectoparasites |
| title | Detection of <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> DNA in Deer Keds: Massachusetts, USA |
| title_full | Detection of <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> DNA in Deer Keds: Massachusetts, USA |
| title_fullStr | Detection of <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> DNA in Deer Keds: Massachusetts, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Detection of <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> DNA in Deer Keds: Massachusetts, USA |
| title_short | Detection of <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> DNA in Deer Keds: Massachusetts, USA |
| title_sort | detection of i anaplasma phagocytophilum i dna in deer keds massachusetts usa |
| topic | deer keds <i>Lipoptena</i> white-tailed deer <i>Odocoileus virginianus</i> <i>Anaplasma</i> ectoparasites |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/42 |
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