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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, August 2003, p. 3829-3834, Vol. 41, No. 8
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.8.3829-3834.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Transmission of Anaplasma marginale by Boophilus microplus: Retention of Vector Competence in the Absence of Vector-Pathogen Interaction

James E. Futse,1 Massaro W. Ueti,1 Donald P. Knowles Jr.,1,2 and Guy H. Palmer1*

Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University,1 Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, Washington 991642

Received 7 March 2003/ Returned for modification 16 May 2003/ Accepted 27 May 2003

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 quantitative differences in infection rate or number of organisms per tick following feeding on cattle with persistent infections of either A. marginale strain. In contrast, the significantly enhanced replication of the Puerto Rico strain in the salivary gland of B. microplus at the time of transmission feeding is consistent with adaptation of a pathogen strain to its available vector. However, the transmission of both strains by B. microplus demonstrates that adaptation or continual interaction between the pathogen and vector is not required for retention of vector competence. Importantly, the results clearly show that reestablishment of acaricide-resistant B. microplus in the United States would be associated with A. marginale transmission.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, 402 Bustad Hall, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040. Phone: (509) 335-6033. Fax: (509) 335-8529. E-mail: gpalmer{at}vetmed.wsu.edu.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, August 2003, p. 3829-3834, Vol. 41, No. 8
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.8.3829-3834.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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