Newly Recognized Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia as Cause of Severe Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever-Like Illness, Northern California, USA.

The incidence of spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses in the United States has tripled since 2010. Rocky Mountain spotted fever, the most severe SFG rickettsiosis, is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii. The lack of species-specific confirmatory testing obfuscates the relative contribution of R. rickettsii and other SFG Rickettsia to this increase. We report a newly recognized rickettsial pathogen, Rickettsia sp. CA6269, as the cause of severe Rocky Mountain spotted fever-like illness in 2 case-patients residing in northern California. Multilocus sequence typing supported the recognition of this pathogen as a novel Rickettsia genotype most closely related to R. rickettsii. Cross-reactivity observed for an established molecular diagnostic test indicated that Rickettsia sp. CA6269 might be misidentified as R. rickettsii. We developed a Rickettsia sp. CA6269-specific real-time PCR to help resolve this diagnostic challenge and better characterize the spectrum of clinical disease and ecologic epidemiology of this pathogen.

Borrelia miyamotoi Infection in Immunocompromised Man, California, USA, 2021.

Infection with Borrelia miyamotoi in California, USA, has been suggested by serologic studies. We diagnosed B. miyamotoi infection in an immunocompromised man in California. Diagnosis was aided by plasma microbial cell-free DNA sequencing. We conclude that the infection was acquired in California.

Transfusion-transmitted Babesia spp.: a changing landscape of epidemiology, regulation, and risk mitigation.

Babesia spp. are tick-borne parasites with a global distribution and diversity of vertebrate hosts. Over the next several decades, climate change is expected to impact humans, vectors, and vertebrate hosts and change the epidemiology of Babesia. Although humans are dead-end hosts for tick-transmitted Babesia, human-to-human transmission of Babesia spp. from transfusion of red blood cells and whole blood-derived platelet concentrates has been reported. In most patients, transfusion-transmitted Babesia (TTB) results in a moderate-to-severe illness. Currently, in North America, most cases of TTB have been described in the United States. TTB cases outside North America are rare, but case numbers may change over time with increased recognition of babesiosis and as the epidemiology of Babesia is impacted by climate change. Therefore, TTB is a concern of microbiologists working in blood operator settings, as well as in clinical settings where transfusion occurs. Microbiologists play an important role in deploying blood donor screening assays in Babesia endemic regions, identifying changing risks for Babesia in non-endemic areas, investigating recipients of blood products for TTB, and drafting TTB policies and guidelines. In this review, we provide an overview of the clinical presentation and epidemiology of TTB. We identify approaches and technologies to reduce the risk of collecting blood products from Babesia-infected donors and describe how investigations of TTB are undertaken. We also describe how microbiologists in Babesia non-endemic regions can assess for changing risks of TTB and decide when to focus on laboratory-test-based approaches or pathogen reduction to reduce TTB risk.

Soft Tick Relapsing Fever - United States, 2012-2021.

Soft tick relapsing fever (STRF) (also known as tickborne relapsing fever) is a rare infection caused by certain Borrelia spirochetes and transmitted to humans by soft-bodied Ornithodoros ticks. In the United States, acquisition of STRF is commonly associated with exposure to rustic cabins, camping, and caves. Antibiotic treatment is highly effective for STRF, but without timely treatment, STRF can result in severe complications, including death. No nationally standardized case definition for STRF exists; however, the disease is reportable in 12 states. This report summarizes demographic and clinical information for STRF cases reported during 2012-2021 from states where STRF is reportable. During this period, 251 cases were identified in 11 states. The median annual case count was 24. Most patients with STRF (55%) were hospitalized; no fatalities were reported. The geographic distribution and seasonal pattern of STRF have remained relatively constant since the 1990s. Persons should avoid rodent-infested structures and rodent habitats, such as caves, in areas where STRF is endemic. STRF surveillance, prevention, and control efforts would benefit from a standardized case definition and increased awareness of the disease among the public and clinicians.

Epidemiology of Hospitalized Patients with Babesiosis, United States, 2010-2016.

Babesia spp. are tickborne parasites that cause the clinical infection babesiosis, which has an increasing incidence in the United States. We performed an analysis of hospitalizations in the United States during 2010-2016 in which babesiosis was listed as a diagnosis. We used the National Inpatient Sample database to characterize the epidemiology of Babesia-associated admissions, reflecting severe Babesia-related disease. Over a 7-year period, a total of 7,818 hospitalizations listed babesiosis as a primary or secondary admitting diagnosis. Hospitalizations were seasonal (71.2% occurred during June-August) and situated overwhelmingly in the Northeast and Midwest. The patients were predominantly male and of advanced age, which is consistent with the expected epidemiology. Despite a higher severity of illness in more than (58.5%), the mortality rate was low (1.6%). Comparison with state reporting data suggests that the number of hospitalized persons with babesiosis increased modestly during the observation period.

New Exposure Location for Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome Case, California, USA, 2018.

We describe a case of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in a patient exposed to Sin Nombre virus in a coastal county in California, USA, that had no previous record of human cases. Environmental evaluation coupled with genotypic analysis of virus isolates from the case-patient and locally trapped rodents identified the likely exposure location.

Fatal Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever along the United States-Mexico Border, 2013-2016.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is an emerging public health concern near the US-Mexico border, where it has resulted in thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths in the past decade. We identified 4 patients who had acquired RMSF in northern Mexico and subsequently died at US healthcare facilities. Two patients sought care in Mexico before being admitted to US-based hospitals. All patients initially had several nonspecific signs and symptoms, including fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, or myalgia, but deteriorated rapidly without receipt of a tetracycline-class antimicrobial drug. Each patient experienced respiratory failure late in illness. Although transborder cases are not common, early recognition and prompt initiation of appropriate treatment are vital for averting severe illness and death. Clinicians on both sides of the US-Mexico border should consider a diagnosis of RMSF for patients with rapidly progressing febrile illness and recent exposure in northern Mexico.

Tickborne relapsing fever - United States, 1990-2011.

Tickborne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a zoonosis caused by spirochetes of the genus Borrelia and transmitted to humans by ticks of the genus Ornithodoros. TBRF is endemic in the western United States, predominately in mountainous regions. Clinical illness is characterized by recurrent bouts of fever, headache, and malaise. Although TBRF is usually a mild illness, severe sequelae and death can occur. This report summarizes the epidemiology of 504 TBRF cases reported from 12 western states during 1990-2011. Cases occurred most commonly among males and among persons aged 10‒14 and 40‒44 years. Most reported infections occurred among nonresident visitors to areas where TBRF is endemic. Clinicians and public health practitioners need to be familiar with current epidemiology and features of TBRF to adequately diagnose and treat patients and recognize that any TBRF case might indicate an ongoing source of potential exposure that needs to be investigated and eliminated.

Risk factors for human lice and bartonellosis among the homeless, San Francisco, California, USA.

Homeless persons in San Francisco, California, USA,have been shown to have head and body lice infestations and Bartonella quintana infections. We surveyed a self selected population of homeless persons in San Francisco to assess infestations of head and body lice, risks of having body lice, and presence of B. quintana in lice. A total of 203 persons who reported itching were surveyed during 2008-2010 and 2012: 60 (30%) had body lice, 10 (4.9%)had head lice, and 6 (3.0%) had both. B. quintana was detected in 10 (15.9%) of 63 body lice pools and in 6 (37.5%)of 16 head lice pools. Variables significantly associated(p<0.05) with having body lice in this homeless population included male sex, African-American ethnicity, and sleeping outdoors. Our study findings suggest that specific segments of the homeless population would benefit from information on preventing body lice infestations and louse borne diseases.

The emergence of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico requires a binational One Health approach.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is an international and quintessential One Health problem. This paper synthesizes recent knowledge in One Health, binational RMSF concerns, and veterinary and human medical perspectives to this fatal, reemerging problem. RMSF, a life-threatening tick-borne disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, emerged during the first decade of the 21st century in impoverished communities in the southwestern US and northern Mexico. Lack of an index of suspicion, delay in diagnosis, and delayed initiation of antibiotic treatment contribute to fatality. Campaigns targeting dog neutering, restraint to residents' properties, and on-dog and on-premises treatment with acaricides temporarily reduce prevalence but are often untenable economically. Contemporary Mexican RMSF is hyperendemic in small communities and cities, whereas epidemics occur in the western US primarily in small tribal communities. In in both locations, the epidemics are fueled by free-roaming dogs and massive brown dog tick populations. In the US, RMSF has a case fatality rate of 5% to 7%; among thousands of annual cases in Mexico, case fatality often exceeds 30%.1,2 Numerous case patients in US border states have recent travel histories to northern Mexico. Veterinarians and physicians should alert the public to RMSF risk, methods of prevention, and the importance of urgent treatment with doxycycline if symptomatic. One Health professionals contribute ideas to manage ticks and rickettsial disease and provide broad education for the public and medical professionals. Novel management approaches include vaccine development and deployment, acaricide resistance monitoring, and modeling to guide targeted dog population management and other interventions.

Surveillance of Flea-Borne Typhus in California, 2011-2019.

Flea-borne typhus (FBT), also referred to as murine typhus, is an acute febrile disease in humans caused by the bacteria Rickettsia typhi. Currently, cases of FBT are reported for public health surveillance purposes (i.e., to detect incidence and outbreaks) in a few U.S. states. In California, healthcare providers and testing laboratories are mandated to report to their respective local public health jurisdictions whenever R. typhi or antibodies reactive to R. typhi are detected in a patient, who then report cases to state health department. In this study, we characterize the epidemiology of flea-borne typhus cases in California from 2011 to 2019. A total of 881 cases were reported during this period, with most cases reported among residents of Los Angeles and Orange Counties (97%). Demographics, animal exposures, and clinical courses for case patients were summarized. Additionally, spatiotemporal cluster analyses pointed to five areas in southern California with persistent FBT transmission.

Rickettsia species identified in adult, host-seeking Dermacentor occidentalis (Acari: Ixodidae) from Baja California, Mexico, and Oregon and Washington, United States.

The Pacific Coast tick (Dermacentor occidentalis Marx, 1892) is a frequently encountered and commonly reported human-biting tick species that has been recorded from most of California and parts of southwestern Oregon, southcentral Washington, and northwestern Mexico. Although previous investigators have surveyed populations of D. occidentalis for the presence of Rickettsia species across several regions of California, populations of this tick have not been surveyed heretofore for rickettsiae from Baja California, Oregon, or Washington. We evaluated 1,367 host-seeking, D. occidentalis adults collected from 2015 to 2022 by flagging vegetation at multiple sites in Baja California, Mexico, and Oregon and Washington, United States, using genus- and species-specific assays for spotted fever group rickettsiae. DNA of Rickettsia 364D, R. bellii, and R. tillamookensis was not detected in specimens from these regions. DNA of R. rhipicephali was detected in D. occidentalis specimens obtained from Ensenada Municipality in Baja California and southwestern Oregon, but not from Washington. All ompA sequences of R. rhipichephali that were amplified from individual ticks in southwestern Oregon were represented by a single genotype. DNA of the Ixodes pacificus rickettsial endosymbiont was amplified from specimens collected in southwestern Oregon and Klickitat County, Washington; to the best of our knowledge, this Rickettsia species has never been identified in D. occidentalis. Collectively, these data are consistent with a relatively recent introduction of Pacific Coast ticks in the northernmost extension of its recognized range.

Correction: A forty-year review of Rocky Mountain spotted fever cases in California shows clinical and epidemiologic changes.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010738.].

The third described case of transfusion-transmitted Babesia duncani.

BACKGROUND: Almost all of the reported US tick-borne and transfusion-associated Babesia cases have been caused by Babesia microti, which is endemic in the Northeast and upper Midwest. We investigated a case caused by B. duncani (formerly, the WA1-type parasite), in a 59-year-old California resident with sickle cell disease (HbSS) whose only risk factor for infection was receipt of red blood cell transfusions. CASE REPORT: The patient's case was diagnosed in September 2008: intraerythrocytic parasites were noted on a blood smear, after a several-month history of increasing transfusion requirements. Molecular and indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) analyses were negative for B. microti but were positive for B. duncani (IFA titer, 1:1024). The complete 18S ribosomal RNA gene of the parasite was amplified from a blood specimen; the DNA sequence was identical to the sequence for the index WA1 parasite isolated in 1991. The patient's case prompted a transfusion investigation: 34 of 38 pertinent blood donors were evaluated, none of whom tested positive by B. microti IFA. The implicated donor-a 67-year-old California resident-had a B. duncani titer of 1:4096; B. duncani also was isolated by inoculating jirds (Mongolian gerbils) with a blood specimen from March 2009, more than 10 months after his index donation in April 2008. The patient's case was diagnosed more than 4 months after the implicated transfusion in May 2008. CONCLUSIONS: This patient had the third documented transfusion case caused by B. duncani. His case underscores the fact that babesiosis can be caused by agents not detected by molecular or serologic analyses for B. microti.

Colorado Tick Fever Virus in the Far West: Forgotten, but Not Gone.

In the past few decades, reported human cases of Colorado tick fever in the western United States have decreased dramatically. The goal of this study was to conduct surveillance for Colorado tick fever virus (CTFV) in Dermacentor ticks in recreational sites in Colorado, Wyoming, and California to determine whether the virus is still present in Dermacentor ticks from these states. Surveillance focused on regions where surveys had been conducted in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Adult Rocky Mountain wood ticks (Dermacentor andersoni), Pacific Coast ticks (Dermacentor occidentalis), and winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) were tested by PCR. A subset of PCR-positive D. andersoni ticks (n = 7) were cultured in Vero cells. CTFV-positive Rocky Mountain wood ticks were found in all states: Colorado (58% prevalence), Wyoming (21%), and California (4%). Although no winter ticks tested positive, Pacific Coast ticks tested positive in one county (Siskiyou County, 15% prevalence) and were positive only in a location that also maintained Rocky Mountain wood ticks and golden mantled ground squirrels, a known CTFV host. In summary, CTFV is prevalent in D. andersoni and D. occidentalis in regions where they are sympatric in California and in D. andersoni in Colorado and Wyoming. Although the number of human CTFV cases has declined dramatically, this decrease in reported disease does not appear to be due to the disappearance or even the decline in prevalence of this virus in ticks in historically endemic regions of the country.

Assessment of Physician Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice for Lyme Disease in a Low-Incidence State.

Lyme disease (LD), caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted to humans in California through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks (Ixodes pacificus). Overall, the incidence of LD in California is low: approximately 0.2 confirmed cases per 100,000 population. However, California's unique ecological diversity results in wide variation in local risk, including regions with local foci at elevated risk of human disease. The diagnosis of LD can be challenging in California because the prior probability of infection for individual patients is generally low. Combined with nonspecific symptoms and complicated laboratory testing, California physicians need a high level of awareness of LD in California to recognize and diagnose LD efficiently. This research addresses an under-studied area of physicians' knowledge and practice of the testing and treatment of LD in a low-incidence state. We assessed knowledge and practices related to LD diagnosis using an electronic survey distributed to physicians practicing in California through mixed sampling methods. Overall, responding physicians in California had a general awareness of Lyme disease and were knowledgeable regarding diagnosis and treatment. However, we found that physicians in California could benefit from further education to improve test-ordering practices, test interpretation, and awareness of California's disease ecology with elevated levels of focal endemicity, to improve recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of LD in California patients.

A forty-year review of Rocky Mountain spotted fever cases in California shows clinical and epidemiologic changes.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a life-threatening tick-borne disease documented in North, Central, and South America. In California, RMSF is rare; nonetheless, recent fatal cases highlight ecological cycles of the two genera of ticks, Dermacentor and Rhipicephalus, known to transmit the disease. These ticks occur in completely different habitats (sylvatic and peridomestic, respectively) resulting in different exposure risks for humans. This study summarizes the demographic, exposure, and clinical aspects associated with the last 40 years of reported RMSF cases to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Seventy-eight RMSF cases with onsets from 1980 to 2019 were reviewed. The incidence of RMSF has risen in the last 20 years from 0.04 cases per million to 0.07 cases per million (a two-fold increase in reports), though the percentage of cases that were confirmed dropped significantly from 72% to 25% of all reported cases. Notably, Hispanic/Latino populations saw the greatest rise in incidence. Cases of RMSF in California result from autochthonous and out-of-state exposures. During the last 20 years, more cases reported exposure in Southern California or Mexico than in the previous 20 years. The driver of these epidemiologic changes is likely the establishment and expansion of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks in Southern California and on-going outbreaks of RMSF in northern Mexico. Analysis of available electronically reported clinical data from 2011 to 2019 showed that 57% of reported cases presented with serious illness requiring hospitalization with a 7% mortality. The difficulty in recognizing RMSF is due to a non-specific clinical presentation; however, querying patients on the potential of tick exposure in both sylvatic and peridomestic environments may facilitate appropriate testing and treatment.

Spotted fever group rickettsiae canine serosurveillance near the US-Mexico border in California.

BACKGROUND: Dogs are vulnerable to pathogens transmitted by brown dog ticks. An epidemic of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is underway in Mexicali, a Mexican city bordering California affecting people and dogs; several human cases have been reported in California residents who travelled to Mexico. To evaluate risks of RMSF, we conducted seroprevalence surveys in Imperial County in 2016 and 2017 using dogs as sentinels. METHODS: Blood was collected from 752 dogs and was tested for antibodies against R. rickettsii, E. canis and A. phagocytophilum (as a proxy for A. platys). Samples were considered seropositive to spotted fever group rickettsia (SFGR) if the R. rickettsia titre was ≥1:64 and seropositive to E. canis and A. phagocytophilum if the titre was ≥1:32. Owners provided information on dog age, exposure risks, health status and tick prevention. We assessed associations between SFGR seropositivity and driving distance to the nearest US-Mexico border crossing station, whether proximity to a border crossing increased likelihood of taking dogs across the border, and whether distance to the border was associated with seropositivity. Logistic regression was performed to assess relationships between the titre classes and other predictor variables. RESULTS: 12.2% of dogs were seropositive against SFGR. Dogs close to the border were significantly more likely to be taken across the border and to be seropositive. Risk factors that increased seropositivity included owners seeing ticks on the dog (OR = 1.9), being an adult dog, travel to Mexico (OR = 3.0) and living in a rural area (OR = 4.0). There was statistically significant co-exposure to SFGR and Anaplasma spp. CONCLUSION: Surveillance for brown dog tick-vectored pathogens can help identify dogs and people at risk for RMSF. Tick prevention, particularly in dogs, and surveillance of tick-borne pathogens can help prevent the spread of rickettsioses and other diseases in this dynamic border region.

Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia miyamotoi seroprevalence in California blood donors.

The western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus, an important vector in the western United States of two zoonotic spirochetes: Borrelia burgdorferi (also called Borreliella burgdorferi), causing Lyme disease, and Borrelia miyamotoi, causing a relapsing fever-type illness. Human cases of Lyme disease are well-documented in California, with increased risk in the north coastal areas and western slopes of the Sierra Nevada range. Despite the established presence of B. miyamotoi in the human-biting I. pacificus tick in California, clinical cases with this spirochete have not been well studied. To assess exposure to B. burgdorferi and B. miyamotoi in California, and to address the hypothesis that B. miyamotoi exposure in humans is similar in geographic range to B. burgdorferi, 1,700 blood donor sera from California were tested for antibodies to both pathogens. Sampling was from high endemic and low endemic counties for Lyme disease in California. All sera were screened using the C6 ELISA. All C6 positive and equivocal samples and nine randomly chosen C6 negative samples were further analyzed for B. burgdorferi antibody using IgG western blot and a modified two ELISA test system and for B. miyamotoi antibody using the GlpQ ELISA and B. miyamotoi whole cell sonicate western blot. Of the 1,700 samples tested in series, eight tested positive for antibodies to B. burgdorferi (0.47%, Exact 95% CI: 0.20, 0.93) and two tested positive for antibodies to B. miyamotoi (0.12%, Exact 95% CI: 0.01, 0.42). There was no statistically significant difference in seroprevalence for either pathogen between high and low Lyme disease endemic counties. Our results confirm a low frequency of Lyme disease and an even lower frequency of B. miyamotoi exposure among adult blood donors in California; however, our findings reinforce public health messaging that there is risk of infection by these emerging diseases in the state.