VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES IMPACTING WILDLIFE, LIVESTOCK AND HUMAN HEALTH IN THE FORESTS OF FLORIDA

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: MCINTIRE-STENNIS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1015620
• Project Start Date: Mar 1, 2018
• Project End Date: Feb 28, 2023
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
G022 MCCARTY HALL
GAINESVILLE,FL 32611

Performing Department
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

Non Technical Summary
Tick-borne diseases of humans, wildlife and livestock are emerging at a rapid rate. The forests of the eastern United States are a hotspot for the emergence of tick-borne diseases. I will conduct extensive surveys for ticks and the diseases that they carry throughout the state of Florida. Using location data and environmental data, I will build predictive models of disease emergence based on climate and land cover data. Information from these models will inform land managers how to better manage forests for disease risks, livestock owners will be able to improve integrated pest management plans, and public health practitioners can provide the public with more precise information about how the general public can protect themselves against ticks and tick-borne diseases.

Animal Health Component

50%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

50%

Applied

50%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
312	0790	1070	100%

Knowledge Area
312 - External Parasites and Pests of Animals;

Subject Of Investigation
0790 - Rangelands, other;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology;

Keywords

ixodid ticks

tick-borne disease

southeastern forests

gulf coast forests

integrated pest management

land use change

urbanization

Goals / Objectives
The geographic distribution and abundance of arthropod vectors and their associated pathogens are dynamic, and are responding both to global scale drivers (e.g. climate change) and local factors (e.g.land use change). Multiple lines of evidence indicate that vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are emerging in Florida and additional information is required to better understand the impacts of vectors and their pathogens in the region. Evidence includes: 1) epidemiologic surveillance of Zika virus (a human pathogen), Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (a livestock pathogen), and ranavirus (a wildlife pathogen), all of which are emerging in Florida;2) the dynamic dispersal of human- and domestic animal-biting vectors including mosquitos, ticks and midges;3) reports during the past decade by the Florida Dept. of Health of a steady increase in the number of cases of tick-borne diseases in humans including borreliosis, rickettsiosis, and ehrlichiosis (Florida Morbidity and Mortality Report 2015; floridahealth.gov). The reason forthese shifts is unclear, but land use change and global climate change are suspected. As Florida's forested landscape changesdue to urbanization, it is imperative that we understand the impact on tick-borne diseases that affect Florida's wildlife, livestock and people.Over the next 5 years, the major goals of this project are to 1) characterize arthropod vector communities in Florida to provide a baseline dataset from which we can determine changes to the vector community over time. We will concentrate primarily on Ixodid tick communities in Florida. 2) We will determine the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in ticks, wildlife and livestock to begin to understand the risk associated with tick-borne diseases. 3) Finally, we will investigate the causes of increased prevalence of pathogens on a temporal and spatial scale using both correlative and experimental approaches. These 3 goals will help us assess and mitigate the risks of tick-borne diseases in Florida.?Over the next 5 years, the major goals of this project are to 1) characterize arthropod vector communities in Florida to provide a baseline dataset from which we can determine changes to the vector community over time. We will concentrate primarily on Ixodid tick communities in Florida. 2) We will determine the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in ticks, wildlife and livestock to begin to understand the risk associated with tick-borne diseases. 3) Finally, we will investigate the causes of increased prevalence of pathogens on a temporal and spatical scale using both correlative and experimental approaches. These 3 goals will help us assess and mitigate the risks of tick-borne diseases in Florida.

Project Methods
Goal 1: Tick surveys. We will survey for ticks in 40 locations in Florida over the next 3 years. We will use off-host methods including dragging, flagging and CO2 traps, as well as collect ticks that are on hosts. Host taxa include reptiles, ungulates and rodents.Goal 2: Pathogen surveillance. We will use molecular techniques to determine the presence or absence of pathogen nucleic acids in ticks and their hosts. We will used previously published primers to amplify nucleic acids of up to 6 tick-borne pathogensusing PCR techniques. We will collect ticks into ethanol, extract and then amplify nucleic acids of specific pathogens. For vertebrate hosts, we will collect blood samples from which pathogen nucleic acids will be extracted and amplified.Goal 3: Spatial patterns of vectors and disease. We will use binomial distribution modeling using environmental correlates at the location of collection to determine the environmental parameters that explain variation in the presence or absence of ticks and their pathogens. In places where animal control is removing invasive vertebrates (e.g. invasive wild pigs), we will monitor the landscape for changes in tick community composition before during and after removal efforts.

Progress 10/01/20 to 09/30/21

Outputs
Target Audience:I reached multiple professional audiences including members of the Entomological Society of America, the Society for Vector Ecology, The Wildlife Society, and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygeine. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One PhD student was trained and graduated. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?I have participated in professional society meetings and reported my findings to the US CEnters for Disaese Control and Prevention. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?I have several other studies that are under review or are in preparation that that also address Goal 3.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? I published a paper that achieves Goal 3: identifying the causes of increased disease prevalence. Lizards are an understudied and underappreciated reservoir of Lyme Disease. Our study determined reservoir cometence for several species of lizard in Florida.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: De Jesus, C., Bhosale, C., Wilson, K., White, Z. and Wisely, S.M., 2021. Reptile Host Associations of Ixodes scapularis in Florida and Implications for Borrelia spp. Ecology. Pathogens, 10(8), p.999.

Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:We reached multiple target audiences including scientists atJoint Eastern & Southeastern Branch Meeting of the Entomological Society of America,Society for Environmental Toxicology and Entomology,Entomological Society of America,American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. We also targeted outdoor recreationists by developing education materials on tick-borne diseases that were disseminated via EDIS and thePanHandle AgNet newsletter. I also particpated in webinars on tick-borne diseases hosted by the CDC and theFlorida Master Naturalist program. Changes/Problems:We were delayed by about 8 weeks from conducting field work due to the COVID pandemic. The molecular laboratory where we test our specimens for pathogens is still operating at ~25% capacity to ensure the safety of students and employees. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project involved 2 undergraduates and 2 graduate students in data collection and scientific presentation. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Preliminary data have been presented at scientific meetings, and in webinars and newsletters to the general public. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will publish our results from the last reporting period and we will begin to work on goal 3:determining the causes of increased prevalence of pathogens on a temporal and spatial scale using both correlative and experimental approaches

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We spent much of the year on goal 2,determiningthe prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in ticks, wildlife and livestock to begin to understand the risk associated with tick-borne diseases. Throughout Florida we live-captured and collected ticks from wild pigs, lizards, feral cats, racoons, opossums, and domestic dogs. Data collection is complete for some species and we are beginning to analyze and synthesize these results.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Joint Eastern & Southeastern Branch Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Comparisons of ectoparasites of urban and wild mesomammals in north-central Florida. Maestas, S.M., Campbell, L., Wisely, S.M., Kaufman, P.E.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Entomological Society of America. Comparisons of ectoparasites of urban and wild mesomammals in north-central Florida. Mays Maestas, S.E., L.P. Campbell, S.M. Wisely, and P.E. Kaufman.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Reptile hosts of Ixodes scapularis: What role do reptiles play in the epidemiology of Lyme disease in the southeastern US? Carrie E. De Jesus, Samantha M. Wisely, Coleman M. Sheehy, David C. Blackburn
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Society for Environmental Toxicology and Entomology. Measurement of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Hematophagous Insects (Ticks) as a Novel Strategy to Monitor Environmental Contamination Levels. Juan J. Aristizabal-Henao, Emily K. Griffin, Rick S. Ostfeld, Kelly Oggenfuss, Brandon M. Parker, Samantha M. Wisely & John A. Bowden.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Entomological Society of America. Ticks in museum collections: reptile specimens are an untapped resource. Carrie De Jesus, Samantha Wisely, Coleman Sheehy, David Blackburn.

Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:We reached multiple target audiences including 52 livestock producerswho attended a symposium on tick-borne diseases. We reached 61 outdoor recreationists in Pinellas and Manatee Counties, Florida who attended a natural resources seminar. We reached 16 county extension agents to inform them about tick-borne diseases. We reached scientists who attended Society for Vector Ecology meeeting, Entomology Society of America Meeting, and the American Mosquito Control Association. We reached readers of journal articles in the journal, Vector-borne and zoonotic diseases. Changes/Problems:We are on target to deliver our stated aims. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?I have provided training to natural resource and livestock county extension agents during an In-Service-Training. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Via in service training, we can disseminate important information about tick-borne diseases to outdoor recreationists. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period we will be analyzing data that we have collected, and will be publishing manuscripts. We will continue to provide educational experiences for extension agents and outdoor recreationists.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In support of goal 1, we continue to characterize vector-borne disease communities in Florida and have presented those findings in scientific meetings and manuscripts are under preparation. In support of goal 2, we are also estimating prevalence of mulitple diseases and have published about those diseases (Merrill et al. 2019). In support of goal 3, we have initiated comparative studies and modeling exercises to better understand the causes of prevalence patterns.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Merrill MM, Boughton RK, Lollis LO, Sayler KA, Wisely SM. 2019. Epidemiology of bluetongue virus and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus in beef cattle on a ranch in south-central Florida. Vector-borne and Zoonotic Disease https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2018.2406
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: 49th Annual Society for Vector Ecology, San Juan Puerto Rico, September 2019. Ticks and Their Vectored Pathogens Within Rural, Semi-Urban and Urban Environments in Alachua County, FL. Chanakya Bhosale, Kristen Wilson, Carrie De Jesus, Zoe White, Samantha Wisely.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Entomological Society of America, St. Louis, MO, November 2019. Seasonal shifts of Florida wild mesomammal ectoparasites. Sarah Mays Maestas, Samantha Wisely and Phillip Kaufman.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: 85th Annual Meeting of the American Mosquito Control Association. February 2019. Rickettsia Diversity of Amblyomma americanum in Florida. Carrie E. De Jesus, Zoe White, Greg Glass, Samantha Wisely

Progress 03/01/18 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:We reached multiple target audiences including 48 livestock producers who attended our workshop. We reached outdoor recreationists who attended the Holmes County Outdoor Expo. We reached outdoor enthusiasts who hiked in North Florida Trust lands. We reached scientists who attended Society for Vector Ecology meeting, FloridaEntomology Society Meeting, and the Southeast Section of the Entomologial Society of America. We reached readers of journal articles in the journal, Insects. Changes/Problems:I have no major changes or problems. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In collaboration with the CDC Center of Excellence in Vector-borne Disease and the National Tick Collection, I was an instructor at a week long tick identification workshop. This workshop trained state, federal and military public health professionals in tick identification and biology. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?I have published journal articles, conducted workshops, disseminated learning tools and attended trade shows of stakeholders. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?I will continue a statewide survey of ticks in the forests of Florida, publish results of theose surveys and continue to educate the public about ticks.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We conducted statewide surveys of medically important ticks and Culicoides midges. Manuscripts have been prepared. We investigated how comercially available acaracide prevented tick-borne pathogen infection in deer. We investigated the role of cattle in the epidemiology of vector-borne disease and wrote a manuscript.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Hern�ndez, F.A., Parker, B.M., Pylant, C.L., Smyser, T.J., Piaggio, A.J., Lance, S.L., Milleson, M.P., Austin, J.D., Wisely, S.M. 2018. Invasion ecology of wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in Florida, USA: the role of humans in the expansion and colonization of an invasive wild ungulate. Biological Invasions 20:1865-1880. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-018-1667-6.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Carr, A., Milleson, M., Hern�ndez, F., Merrill, H., Avery, M. and Wisely, S. 2019. Wildlife Management Practices Associated with Pathogen Exposure in Non-Native Wild Pigs in Florida, US. Viruses, 11:14. https://doi.org/10.3390/v11010014
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Sloyer, K., Burkett-Cadena, N.D., Yang, A., Corn, J.L., Vigil, S.L., McGregor, B.L., Wisely, S.M., Blackburn, J.K. 2019. Ecological niche modeling the potential geographic distribution of four Culicoides species of veterinary significance in Florida, USA. PLoS One 14(2): e0206648. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0206648
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Merrill MM, Boughton RK, Lollis LO, Sayler KA, Wisely SM. 2019. Epidemiology of bluetongue virus and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus in beef cattle on a ranch in south-central Florida. Vector-borne and Zoonotic Disease https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2018.2406