An
asian tick mysteriously turned up on a New Jersey sheep. The tick has
been associated with a phlebovirus, called the SFTS virus, which is an
emerging hemorrhagic fever discovered in China (other tick-borne
phleboviruses, such as the Powassan virus, are spreading here in the
US).
Severe Fever and Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) is not new, and recently led to the death of a Japanese woman. The major clinical symptoms are similar to other tick-borne viral infections such as the Bourbon and Heartland viruses in the Midwestern US, and include low white cell counts (leucopenia), low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) and G.I. manifestations (elevated liver functions, i.e., transaminitis) with associated fever, vomiting, diarrhea and multiple organ failure (Yu XJ, Liang MF, Zhang SY, Liu Y, Li JD, Sun YL, et al. Fever with Thrombocytopenia Associated with a Novel Bunyavirus in China. N Engl J Med. 2011 Apr 21;364(16):1523-32.; Lam TT, Liu W, Bowden TA, Cui N, Zhuang L, Liu K, Zhang YY, Cao WC, Pybus OG (2013) Evolutionary and molecular analysis of the emergent severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus. Epidemics 5(1):1-10).
Migratory birds are known to carry ticks across large geographical areas in the US and Europe (Newman E, et al. Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Spirochetes in Wild Birds in Northwestern California: Associations with Ecological Factors, Bird Behavior and Tick Infestation. PLoS ONE 10(2): e0118146. Published: February 25, 2015), but considering the long distance from the US to Asia, researchers are wondering how this tick made it into NJ. The other anomaly, is that approximately 1000 larval ticks were found on clothing (microscopic in size), and this is "the first time all life stages of this species (larvae, nymphs and adults) have been found on an unquarantined animal in the U.S." Rarely, larval ticks can transmit infection.
Ticks and associated co-infections are constantly evolving in both number and geographical location, along with emerging species. Prevention is more important than ever as we approach the springtime. Patients are already telling me that they are bringing in ticks and/or getting bitten during warm winter days! Consider wearing permethrin treated clothing, putting IR3535 or picardin on the skin, and doing frequent tick checks, while properly removing ticks to prevent transmission. Placing clothes in the dryer on high heat for up to 15 minutes will also help kill ticks. Keep safe as you enjoy the outdoors.
https://www.npr.org/…/asian-ticks-mysteriously-turned-up-on…
Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of Dr Richard Horowitz, and do not represent the views of the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group, HHS or the United States
Severe Fever and Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) is not new, and recently led to the death of a Japanese woman. The major clinical symptoms are similar to other tick-borne viral infections such as the Bourbon and Heartland viruses in the Midwestern US, and include low white cell counts (leucopenia), low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) and G.I. manifestations (elevated liver functions, i.e., transaminitis) with associated fever, vomiting, diarrhea and multiple organ failure (Yu XJ, Liang MF, Zhang SY, Liu Y, Li JD, Sun YL, et al. Fever with Thrombocytopenia Associated with a Novel Bunyavirus in China. N Engl J Med. 2011 Apr 21;364(16):1523-32.; Lam TT, Liu W, Bowden TA, Cui N, Zhuang L, Liu K, Zhang YY, Cao WC, Pybus OG (2013) Evolutionary and molecular analysis of the emergent severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus. Epidemics 5(1):1-10).
Migratory birds are known to carry ticks across large geographical areas in the US and Europe (Newman E, et al. Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Spirochetes in Wild Birds in Northwestern California: Associations with Ecological Factors, Bird Behavior and Tick Infestation. PLoS ONE 10(2): e0118146. Published: February 25, 2015), but considering the long distance from the US to Asia, researchers are wondering how this tick made it into NJ. The other anomaly, is that approximately 1000 larval ticks were found on clothing (microscopic in size), and this is "the first time all life stages of this species (larvae, nymphs and adults) have been found on an unquarantined animal in the U.S." Rarely, larval ticks can transmit infection.
Ticks and associated co-infections are constantly evolving in both number and geographical location, along with emerging species. Prevention is more important than ever as we approach the springtime. Patients are already telling me that they are bringing in ticks and/or getting bitten during warm winter days! Consider wearing permethrin treated clothing, putting IR3535 or picardin on the skin, and doing frequent tick checks, while properly removing ticks to prevent transmission. Placing clothes in the dryer on high heat for up to 15 minutes will also help kill ticks. Keep safe as you enjoy the outdoors.
https://www.npr.org/…/asian-ticks-mysteriously-turned-up-on…
Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of Dr Richard Horowitz, and do not represent the views of the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group, HHS or the United States
