Transmission of Anaplasma marginale by Boophilus microplus: retention of vector competence in the absence of vector-pathogen interaction.

ABSTRACT: Whether arthropod vectors retain competence for transmission of infectious agents in the long-term absence of vector-pathogen interaction is unknown. We addressed this question by quantifying the vector competence of two tick vectors, with mutually exclusive tropical- versus temperate-region distributions, for genetically distinct tropical- and temperate-region strains of the cattle pathogen Anaplasma marginale. The tropical cattle tick Boophilus microplus, which has been eradicated from the continental United States for over 60 years, was able to acquire and transmit the temperate St. Maries (Idaho) strain of A. marginale. Similarly, the temperate-region tick Dermacentor andersoni efficiently acquired and transmitted the Puerto Rico strain of A. marginale. There were no significant quanti

SUBMITTER: Futse JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC179812 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature