Identifying Trusted Sources of Lyme Disease Prevention Information Among Internet Users Connected to Academic Public Health Resources: Internet-Based Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: Misinformation about Lyme disease and other tick-transmitted pathogens circulates frequently on the internet and can compete with, or even overshadow, science-based guidance on tick-borne disease (TBD) prevention. OBJECTIVE: We surveyed internet users connected to academic tick-related resources to identify trusted sources of Lyme disease prevention information, explore confidence in tick bite prevention information, and examine associations of these responses with answers to commonly disputed issues. METHODS: The survey was conducted through social media and website pages for Western Connecticut State University Tickborne Disease Prevention Laboratory and the University of Rhode Island TickEncounter Resource Center. RESULTS: Respondents (N=1190) were predominantly female (903/1190, 76.3%), middle-aged (574/1182, 48.6%), and resided in New England states (663/1190, 55.7%). In total 984 of 1186 (83%) respondents identified conventional experts (eg, the Centers for Disease Control [CDC] or other government health agencies, physicians who follow Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines for Lyme disease treatment guidelines, and academics) as trustworthy TBD prevention resources. However, nearly one-fourth of respondents would first consult personal contacts and web-based communities regarding prevention information before consulting conventional expert sources. The opinions of public health experts and physicians were rated among the top motivators underlying personal prevention decisions; yet, more than 50% of participants revealed distrustful attitudes toward, or were uncertain about, CDC-supported statements related to time to transmission of Lyme disease (708/1190, 59.5%), the safety of diethyltoluamide-based repellents for children (604/1183, 51.1%), and recommended use of antibiotic prophylaxis (773/1181, 65.4%). Multimodal regression models revealed that participants from high-Lyme-disease-incidence states were more likely to first seek TBD prevention information from personal networks and nontraditional sources before approaching conventional sources of TBD prevention information. We found that those reporting high rates of social media usage were more than twice as likely to first seek traditional expert sources of prevention information but were overall more likely to reject CDC-promoted Lyme disease information, in particular the established time to transmission of Lyme disease bacteria. Models also predicted that those participants who disagreed with the conventional scientific view on the antibiotic prophylaxis prevention statement were less likely to be confident in their ability to protect themselves from a tick bite. Overall, uncertainty in one's ability to protect oneself against tick bites was strongly associated with uncertainty about beliefs in CDC-promoted TBD prevention information. Self-reported trust in experts and frequency of social media use suggest that these platforms may provide opportunities to engage directly with the public about TBD prevention practices. CONCLUSIONS: Using strategies to improve public trust and provide information where the public engages on social media may improve prevention communication and adoption of best practices.

New arthropod-Podostemaceae associations in Central and South America.

Podostemaceae are a unique family of aquatic angiosperms found in river rapids and waterfalls throughout southern Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Podostemaceae are understudied, and consequently, the arthropods associated with these plants are not well known. We sought to expand knowledge of arthropod-Podostemaceae associations to better understand the impact of these plants on aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity. We examined samples of Podostemaceae collected between 1998 and 2007 from Brazil, Costa Rica, Suriname, and Venezuela for arthropods even though these samples were not collected with the intent to investigate arthropod-Podostemaceae associations. We examined 15 samples of Podostemaceae, including 10 species never evaluated for arthropod associations, and found over 9000 arthropods representing 12 different orders. The most abundant orders were Diptera (77.88%), Trichoptera (12.90%), Coleoptera (3.35%), and Lepidoptera (2.42%). We found several arthropods not previously reported from Podostemaceae, including Collembola and Acari, documented several instances of insects boring into plant tissues, and provide the first report of an insect-induced gall on Ceratolacispedunculatum C.T. Philbrick, Novelo & Irgang.

Spray Safe, Play Safe: Story-Based Films Increase Homeowner Confidence About Backyard Tick Management.

Lyme disease incidence is increasing in the United States despite myriad efforts to educate individuals about effective prevention practices to reduce exposure to nymphal Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) (blacklegged tick), the primary vector of the pathogen causing Lyme disease. Furthermore, Lyme prevention educational needs currently exceed the ability of public health professionals to deliver the information in person. Past work has shown there is especially high confusion regarding the use of acaricides for tick management by homeowners. Story-based education is known to engage individuals and change behaviors. To increase the reach and engagement regarding Lyme disease prevention practices, especially residential acaricide use, we created short, story-based educational films (Spray Safe, Play Safe) and evaluated their educational benefit with a survey pre- and post-viewing. We determined that after viewing the films, a significantly higher percentage of respondents reported increased confidence in identifying the riskiest areas in their yards for ticks, using personal protective measures to prevent tick bites, using tick-safe landscaping, and using tick control products. This study also suggests that using short, engaging films that can be posted to popular websites and social media outlets could be employed more frequently for successful and engaging Lyme disease education, as creative and up-to-date educational methods are needed.

Multistate Infestation with the Exotic Disease-Vector Tick Haemaphysalis longicornis - United States, August 2017-September 2018.

Haemaphysalis longicornis is a tick indigenous to eastern Asia and an important vector of human and animal disease agents, resulting in such outcomes as human hemorrhagic fever and reduction of production in dairy cattle by 25%. H. longicornis was discovered on a sheep in New Jersey in August 2017 (1). This was the first detection in the United States outside of quarantine. In the spring of 2018, the tick was again detected at the index site, and later, in other counties in New Jersey, in seven other states in the eastern United States, and in Arkansas. The hosts included six species of domestic animals, six species of wildlife, and humans. To forestall adverse consequences in humans, pets, livestock, and wildlife, several critical actions are indicated, including expanded surveillance to determine the evolving distribution of H. longicornis, detection of pathogens that H. longicornis currently harbors, determination of the capacity of H. longicornis to serve as a vector for a range of potential pathogens, and evaluation of effective agents and methods for the control of H. longicornis.

A Proposal for Public and Private Partnership in Extension.

Public funding for Extension in the United States has been decreasing for many years, but farmers' need for robust information on which to make management decisions has not diminished. The current Extension funding challenges provide motivation to explore a different model for developing and delivering extension. The private sector has partnered with the public sector to fund and conduct agricultural research, but partnering on extension delivery has occurred far less frequently. The fundamental academic strength and established Extension network of the public sector combined with the ability of the private sector to encourage and deliver practical, implementable solutions has the potential to provide measurable benefits to farmers. This paper describes the current Extension climate, presents data from a survey about Extension and industry relationships, presents case studies of successful public- and private-sector extension partnerships, and proposes a framework for evaluating the state of effective partnerships. Synergistic public-private extension efforts could ensure that farmers receive the most current and balanced information available to help with their management decisions.

Intraplant Sampling of Grapevines for Pierce's Disease Diagnosis.

The bacterium Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al. induces Pierce's disease (PD) of grapevine. This study was initiated to improve sampling protocols to identify X. fastidiosa-infected grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) in California vineyards. Several potential PD symptoms, including leaf necrosis and chlorosis, internodal distance, petiole length and weight, and extent of cane branching, were not reliable indicators of X. fastidiosa infection. The matchstick symptom (i.e., abscised leaf blades leaving behind a dried, burnt-appearing petiole tip) was the only consistent indicator of infection in X. fastidiosa-positive grapevines. Further study revealed that leaves selected from the most basal nodes of positive canes had the highest probability of X. fastidiosa detection, with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A symptom reliability index (SRI) was created to assess visual PD diagnosis by node location. The SRI values were the highest at basal node locations, but symptoms at any single node were not consistently reliable for PD diagnosis. Our results showed that PD diagnosis based on foliar symptoms was unreliable. However, taking samples from the basal portion of a cane increased the probability of X. fastidiosa detection.

Bean leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) management for reduction of bean pod mottle virus.

Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) is a management concern for soybean, Glycine max (L.), producers in the North Central states because it can cause yield loss and reduce seed quality by induction of seed coat mottling. The main vector of BPMV is the bean leaf beetle, Cerotoma trifurcata (Forster). An experiment was conducted in 2000 and 2001 at two locations in northwestern and central Iowa to test three insecticide treatments for suppression of bean leaf beetles, and subsequently, BPMV. Treatments of insecticide applications with lambda-cyhalothrin were 1) a single early-season application (23 g [AI] /ha) (2.5 oz/acre) at the VE-VC soybean developmental stage; 2) two early-season applications, the first the same as treatment 1 and a second at the same rate 9-13 d later; 3) a single early-season application the same as treatment 1, followed by a mid-season application (28 g [AI] /ha (3.2 oz/acre) at approximately R2 (flowering, near 15 July); and 4) an unsprayed control. Application of lambda-cyhalothrin after soybean emergence and again as first-generation bean leaf beetles emerged in northwestern Iowa in 2000 (treatment 3) significantly reduced beetle densities through mid-season, BPMV field incidence by 31.5%, and seed coat mottling by 31.2%, compared with the unsprayed control. Similar effects were measured at the same location when insecticide was applied twice at early season (treatment 2). Yield was 453.7 kg/ha (6.74 bu/acre) greater in treatment 2 and 525.20 kg/ha (7.80 bu/acre) greater in treatment 3 than in the unsprayed control at the northwestern site in 2000. At both locations in 2001 fewer treatment effects were observed, which was likely related to lower beetle populations in that year. Early-season insecticide sprays targeted at overwintered beetles on VC-VE reduced the initial population of vector insects and may have contributed to a lower first-generation population because of reduced overwintered beetle oviposition. In 1 year at one location there was a benefit to an additional mid-season insecticide spray, although effectiveness of spraying at this time could vary based on the magnitude of the vector population.

Potential Primary Inoculum Sources of Bean pod mottle virus in Iowa.

A survey of Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) in Iowa counties was conducted and the virus was found throughout the state. A long-term monitoring study (1989 to 2002) of the main BPMV vector, the bean leaf beetle, Cerotoma trifurcata, indicated that, in 2002, populations reached the highest abundance recorded in 14 years. Three potential sources for an early season primary inoculum source were found: (i) soybean (Glycine max) seed, (ii) overwintered bean leaf beetles, and (iii) alternate BPMV host plants. Examination of 5,804 and 8,064 soybean seedlings of two cultivars yielded 0 and 3 seedlings, respectively, infected with BPMV. In a separate test, BPMV was detected in mottled and nonmottled soybean seed. Some mottled seed did not contain BPMV, indicating that soybean seed coat mottling is an unreliable indicator for presence of the virus in seed. Of 194 naturally overwintered bean leaf beetles, only 1 transmitted BPMV to soybean. BPMV was detected serologically only in 1 alternate host, Desmodium canadense, out of 23 naturally occurring plant species collected from the field. The three inoculum sources discovered in Iowa in this study could be important primary sources when vector populations are high and indicate starting points for future epidemiological investigations.