Project Results

Thank you to all who have contributed. We have published our findings!  

http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fvets.2021.803424/full?&utm_source=Email_to_authors_&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=T1_11.5e1_author&utm_campaign=Email_publication&field=&journalName=Frontiers_in_Veterinary_Science&id=803424

About This Project

There is an abundant population of ticks on Guam, which can cause devastating illness in animals. Many animals, with close interactions and overlapping environments with people, can serve as sentinels for human disease. The ticks of Guam are known to host at least eight pathogens, of which three are zoonotic. This is a threat to domestic animals, humans, and wildlife populations on Guam.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Currently, there are believed to be three main species of ticks on Guam; however, an island wide survey has not been conducted recently. Recent studies have found multiple pathogens in the ticks from deer and wild pigs on Guam, and small animal veterinarians report finding Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Babesia spp. regularly in dogs and cats. Despite these preliminary findings, a full characterization of the pathogens found in the ticks on Guam has not been done.

What is the significance of this project?

The main concerns about tick-borne pathogens on Guam are: 1) severe illness in domestic animals and wild animals resulting in extensive hospitalization and treatment (domestic animals) and population collapse concerns (wildlife), 2) the potential for disease in humans from existing pathogens, and 3) the possibility of an introduction of new tick vectors and novel pathogens. At least two of the tick species present on Guam are capable of hosting pathogens such as the agents of human ehrlichiosis and spotted fevers which can cause severe autoimmune conditions and organ failure in people. Guam's native and migratory birds are potential hosts for tick pathogens or the means of introduction of new tick species.

What are the goals of the project?

Our overall goal is to identify ticks and tick-borne pathogens present on Guam. We will first collect ticks from the environment, domestic animals (dogs, cats, cattle, goats, and water buffalos), and wildlife (deer, rodent, pig, and birds). We will identify the ticks, and any ticks not of the five recognized species will be submitted for further identification. We will then submit the ticks for PCR testing. We then plan to use GIS to map out the locations of the ticks and pathogens throughout the island. We hope to provide an assessment of the risks to people and animals based on the pathogens detected and their locations and to assist in the development of an on-going surveillance plan for ticks and tick-borne pathogens.