Evaluating the Prevalence of Tick-Borne Viruses Circulating in Virginia Using a One-Health Approach

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dc.contributor.authorGarba, Ahmed Oladayoen
dc.contributor.committeechairEastwood, Gillianen
dc.contributor.committeememberSaucedo, Omaren
dc.contributor.committeememberLahmers, Kevin K.en
dc.contributor.committeememberPaulson, Sally L.en
dc.contributor.departmentEntomologyen
dc.coverage.countryUnited Statesen
dc.coverage.stateVirginiaen
dc.date.accessioned2023-07-04T08:00:40Zen
dc.date.available2023-07-04T08:00:40Zen
dc.date.issued2023-07-03en
dc.description.abstractTicks are hematophagous ectoparasites capable of transmitting various pathogens, including bacteria, protozoa, and viruses, to vertebrates. In the United States, tick-borne pathogens are responsible for around 95% of arthropod-borne diseases. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness. However, emerging tick-borne viruses such as Bourbon virus (BRBV), Powassan virus (POWV), and Heartland virus (HRTV) can cause more severe health problems, including death and neurological abnormalities. The reports of molecular detection of viral RNA in field-collected ticks and serological evidence in a pilot study of wildlife species suggest the presence of these emerging viruses in Virginia. The presence poses a serious health threat, but the extent of their presence or circulation in Virginia is unknown. The objectives of the research are (1) to determine the evidence of circulation of POWV, HRTV, and BRBV in Virginia through serological assessment of domestic and wild animals in Virginia and (2) estimate transmission parameters and the basic reproduction number underlying tick-borne virus distribution and prevalence via a mathematical model. Here, we discuss the known literature relevant to tick-borne virus emergence; we assessed the presence of specific neutralizing antibodies against POWV, HRTV, and BRBV in wildlife and livestock sera collected from different health planning regions in Virginia. We used a susceptible-infected-susceptible (SIS) ordinary differential equation model to estimate transmission parameters that best describe the disease dynamics of emerging tick-borne viruses in Virginia. In our study, wildlife sera were seropositive against POWV (18%), BRBV (8%), and HRTV (5%). A wide range of different wildlife species were shown to be exposed to each virus examined. Livestock are also exposed to tick-borne viruses, with seroprevalences of 1%, 1.2%, and 8% detected in cattle for POWV, BRBV, and HRTV, respectively. We estimated the transmission rate and basic reproduction number to be 1.57 and 0.645, respectively. In conclusion, there is a widespread circulation of tick-borne viruses in western and northern Virginia within diverse species of animal populations.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralTicks are blood-sucking ectoparasites that can transmit various pathogens, including bacteria, protozoa, and viruses, to humans and other vertebrates. In the United States, tick-borne pathogens are responsible for about 95% of all arthropod-borne disease cases. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness. However, emerging tick-borne viruses such as Bourbon virus (BRBV), Powassan virus (POWV), and Heartland virus (HRTV), can cause more severe health problems, including potentially death or neurological abnormalities. The reports of molecular detection of viral RNA in field-collected ticks and serological evidence in a pilot study of wildlife species suggest the presence of these emerging viruses in Virginia. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the extent of their circulation. Firstly, this study aims to determine the evidence of circulation of POWV, HRTV, and BRBV in Virginia through serological assessment of domestic and wild animals. Secondly, this study aims to estimate transmission parameters and calculate the basic reproduction number of emerging tick-borne viruses. Evidence of prior infection against all three tick-borne viruses was detected in both wild and domestic animal species from the five Virginia health planning regions, with most samples in the study coming from southwestern and northwestern regions. In conclusion, there is a circulation of tick-borne viruses in Virginia, which is a potential threat to the public health.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Science in Life Sciencesen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:37783en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/115627en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectPowassan virusen
dc.subjectHeartland virusen
dc.subjectBourbon virusen
dc.subjectIxodes scapularisen
dc.subjectAmblyomma americanumen
dc.subjectwildlifeen
dc.subjectlivestocken
dc.subjecttick-borne virusesen
dc.subjectserologyen
dc.subjectsurveillanceen
dc.subjectVirginiaen
dc.titleEvaluating the Prevalence of Tick-Borne Viruses Circulating in Virginia Using a One-Health Approachen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineEntomologyen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science in Life Sciencesen

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