Joseph Piesman

Absence of spirochaetes (Borrelia burgdorferi) and piroplasms (Babesia microti) in deer ticks (Ixodes dammini) parasitized by chalcid wasps (Hunterellus hookeri)

ABSTRACT. An entomophagous wasp (Hunterellus hookeri Howard) parasitizes about a third of the host‐seeking nymphal Ixodes dammini Spielman et al. ticks on Naushon Island in Massachusetts (U.S.A.) where the agents of Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson et al.) and human babesiosis (Babesia microti Franca) are enzootic. Following blood‐feeding, wasp‐parasitized ticks are destroyed by the developing wasp. The prevalence of either human pathogen in host‐seeking ticks collected in wasp‐infested sites is nearly 40% lower than that found in other sites. Nymphal ticks, collected early in their season of activity, are more frequently parasitized by the wasp and less frequently by the Lyme disease spirochaete than those collected later in the summer. Spirochaetes never infected wasp‐infected ticks, and few wasp‐infected ticks were concurrently infected by the Babesia piroplasm. Taken together, these correlations indicate that the wasp may render the tick inhospitable to both pathogens. The presence of the wasp may have reduced risk of human infection on the island by either pathogen by as much as a third.

Penetration of the peritrophic membrane of the tick by Babesia microti

SummaryA peritrophic membrane (PM) has been demonstrated in the gut of feeding larvae, nymphs, and adults of the tick Ixodes dammini. This is the first report of a PM in ticks. This temporary structure divides the lumen of the gut into two compartments, an endoperitrophic space, the lumen proper, and an ectoperitrophic space located between the PM and the epithelial cells of the gut wall. The PM is a mechanical barrier and even such small particles as ribosomes derived from ingested reticulocytes are retained in the lumen proper; they are never found in the ectoperitrophic compartment. In Ixodes dammini fed on hamsters infected with Babesia microti some of the parasites are found in the ectoperitrophic space. This passage is accomplished by a highly specialized organelle, the arrowhead, which develops in some Babesia during their metamorphosis in the gut of the vector. The arrowhead, while passing through the PM, changes its fine structure and loses its internal organization as if releasing some of its contents. Its disintegration continues and it disappears shortly after the Babesia have entered the epithelial cells. Only Babesia equipped with the arrowhead structure are able to cross the PM. This is the first documented case of a parasite traversing a solidified PM.

Development of Babesia microti sporozoites in adult Ixodes dammini

Abstract The ability of Babesia microti parasites to develop in salivary glands of adult Ixodes dammini ticks was determined. Parasites acquired by larval ticks did not survive into the adult stage; in contrast, about 1 4 of adults acquiring infection during the nymphal stage became infectious. Nymphal I. dammini salivary glands were more intensely parasitized than were adult salivary glands. The ultrastructural morphology of sporozoites developing in adult salivary glands closely resembled that of sporozoites in nymphal glands. Salivarian sporozoites derived from adult ticks produced infection when inoculated into susceptible hosts.

Ultrastructural studies on sporogony of Babesia microti in salivary gland cells of the tick Ixodes dammini.

SummaryTick larvae were permitted to feed on infected hamsters and then allowed to molt. Nymphs were examined just prior to feeding on uninfected hamsters or at timed intervals thereafter. Invasion of the salivary gland by B. microti occurs before feeding of the nymph begins, and development of the parasite is further stimulated by feeding. The sporoblast forms a massive multinucleated meshwork which ramifies throughout the large host cell. No separation of the meshwork into multiple subdivisions, termed “cytomeres” by other workers, has been detected. Instead the specialized organelles characteristic of sporozoites, namely micronemes, rhoptries, and segments of double membrane appear in the meshwork itself and gradually become organized into sporozoite anlagen which protrude from its surface. At the same time the meshwork shortens and thickens giving rise to large compact undifferentiated bodies whose surface is also studded with sporozoite anlagen. Sporozoites thus originate either from the meshwork or from the undifferentiated bodies. In either case large lobate nuclei send projections into the anlagen as they protrude from the surface of the sporoblast. In a final step the mature sporozoites arise by simultaneous nuclear and cytoplasmic divisions. There is no separate stage of schizogony and the process is one of true budding.

Trypanosoma cruzi: Kinetics of Metacyclogenesis in Adult and Nymphal Panstrongylus megistus

Adult triatomine insects, Panstrongylus megistus, naturally infected with the protozoa, Trypanosoma cruzi, contained significantly more metacyclic trypomastigote forms in their digestive tracts than did P. megistus nymphs. Metacyclics were scarce in all stages of triatomines fed once on infected mammalian hosts and subsequently starved. In contrast, triatomines fed repeatedly on infected mammalian hosts developed prolific T. cruzi infections. Repeatedly fed adults contained 14 X more metacyclics than similarly fed nymphs. Nutritional factors appear to play a key role in regulating metacyclogenesis. Control campaigns designed to alter the age structure of populations of triatomines must take notice of the high transmission potential of the adult stage.

Sensitivity of Gomez-Nuñez boxes for the detection of household infestation with Panstrongylus megistus

Four methods for detecting household infestations with Panstrongylus megistus were compared: 1) manual collection; 2) collection after pyrethrum application; 3) search viable eggs; and 4) Gomez-Nunez boxes. Manual collection was the most sensitive method (23% infested), followed by pyrethrum (21%), Gomez-Nunez boxes (15%) and viable eggs (12%). About 10% of infested houses were positive exclusively on the Gomez-Nunez box test. More over, 6 out of the 7 houses positive exclusively on the Gomez-Nunez method were located in a recently sprayed area, where P. megistus density was low. Inspection of Gomez-Nunez boxes at 12 weekspost-application was twice as effective as inspection at 6 weekspost-application. Triatomine feces was the most common evidencefor thepresence of P. megistus found within Gomez-Nunez boxes. Gomez-Nunez boxes area a useful adjunct to manual collection in detecting domestic infestations with P. megistus, especially in areas where bug densities are low. However, the utility of Gomez-Nuhez boxes must be weighed against the time and labor they require.