Latest news with #GoudarzMolaei
New York Post
3 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Potentially deadly bacteria found in invasive tick for first time in US
As outdoor activities begin to ramp up ahead of summer, Connecticut officials announced Tuesday that they confirmed the first US case of the invasive longhorned tick carrying Ehrlichia chaffeensis, a bacteria capable of causing a potentially deadly disease. Known as human monocytic ehrlichiosis, or HME, the disease initially causes symptoms such as sudden high fever, chills and fatigue a few weeks after an infection, according to officials with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES). Advertisement Symptoms may progress to include symptoms such as nausea, confusion and, ultimately, kidney failure and respiratory complications. HME is usually spread by the lone star tick, which is native to the US and found throughout most of the eastern, southeastern, and south-central parts of the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. However, the recent case of a tick carrying Ehrlichia chaffeensis, the bacteria behind HME, in Connecticut involved the longhorned tick, a tick species native to eastern Asia. With the rise of outdoor activities, Connecticut officials announced that they have the first confirmed US case of the invasive longhorned tick carrying Ehrlichia chaffeensis. shishiga – Advertisement This species' role in carrying the bacteria and spreading HME is significant because the invasive species is expected to spread throughout the eastern US, officials said. They noted that this is due to the animal's ability to reproduce without a male, along with its unrestrictive feeding. 'The first fully engorged human-parasitizing longhorned tick specimen was recorded by the CAES in 2018 from Fairfield, Connecticut, and the first populations of the tick were reported from this county in 2020,' said Dr. Goudarz Molaei, director of the CAES Passive Tick and Tick-Borne Disease Surveillance Program. Known as human monocytic ehrlichiosis, or HME, the disease can be potentially deadly, with symptoms such as high fever, chills and fatigue being present if affected by the tick. Mayo Clinic Advertisement 'Since then, populations of longhorned ticks have expanded into a number of towns in Fairfield and New Haven Counties. Additionally, individual tick specimens have been collected from New London and other counties.' Officials warned of the species' ability to expand their geographic range and their potential to transmit pathogens that could threaten the health of humans, pets and other animals. They noted that the longhorned tick has been found to transmit a variety of pathogens in the US, such as those that cause Lyme disease.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Potentially deadly bacteria found in invasive tick for first time in US
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – As outdoor activities begin to ramp up ahead of summer, Connecticut officials announced Tuesday that they confirmed the first U.S. case of the invasive longhorned tick carrying Ehrlichia chaffeensis, a bacteria capable of causing a potentially deadly disease. Known as human monocytic ehrlichiosis, or HME, the disease initially causes symptoms such as sudden high fever, chills and fatigue a few weeks after an infection, according to officials with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES). Symptoms may progress to include symptoms such as nausea, confusion and, ultimately, kidney failure and respiratory complications. HME is usually spread by the lone star tick, which is native to the U.s. and found throughout most of the eastern, southeastern, and south-central parts of the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. However, the recent case of a tick carrying Ehrlichia chaffeensis, the bacteria behind HME, in Connecticut involved the longhorned tick, a tick species native to eastern Asia. This species' role in carrying the bacteria and spreading HME is significant because the invasive species is expected to spread throughout the eastern U.S., officials said. They noted that this is due to the animal's ability to reproduce without a male, along with its unrestrictive feeding. "The first fully engorged human-parasitizing longhorned tick specimen was recorded by the CAES in 2018 from Fairfield, Connecticut, and the first populations of the tick were reported from this county in 2020," said Dr. Goudarz Molaei, director of the CAES Passive Tick and Tick-Borne Disease Surveillance Program. "Since then, populations of longhorned ticks have expanded into a number of towns in Fairfield and New Haven Counties. Additionally, individual tick specimens have been collected from New London and other counties." Officials warned of the species' ability to expand their geographic range and their potential to transmit pathogens that could threaten the health of humans, pets and other animals. How To Watch Fox Weather They noted that the longhorned tick has been found to transmit a variety of pathogens in the U.S., such as those that cause Lyme article source: Potentially deadly bacteria found in invasive tick for first time in US
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Emerging tick species in CT found to carry rare bacteria that can be deadly, officials say
An invasive tick species in Connecticut has been found to carry the bacteria that can cause ehrlichiosis in humans, a discovery that has alarmed state biologists as the tick continues to increase its spread throughout the state. Longhorned ticks, an emerging invasive species in the state, have now been found to carry the bacteria that causes ehrlichiosis. The bacteria, while rare in Connecticut, has been found in the state for a while, according to Dr. Goudarz Molaei, a state entomologist with the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station. Between 2001 and 2019, the number of cases of the bacteria increased from 142 to 2,093, a roughly 15-fold rise. Only two erlichiosis cases were recorded in Connecticut between 2008 and 2018, however, 28 cases were reported in the state between 2019 and 2023, according to CAES data. 'This is concerning because before we only saw this bacteria present in the lone star tick, this is the first case detected in the longhorned tick,' Molaei said. 'What is concerning about this is that the longhorned tick doesn't need a mate to reproduce. So it has the potential to spread quickly and we already are seeing that as its population increases.' Longhorned ticks primarily reproduce through a process called parthenogenesis, where females can lay viable eggs without mating to reproduce. This means a single female tick can create an entire population without a male partner, increasing the risks of rapid spread, Molaei said. 'This is very unusual and something we don't see too often,' Molaei said. 'So far this is the only tick in the United States that has this ability to reproduce without a mate. In other animals like arthropods and certain vertebrae, parthenogenesis has been reported, but it's still very rare.' Molaei said that a rise in ehrlichiosis cases is expected in the future. The bacterial infection can be a serious illness, though most cases are not fatal with prompt treatment. Untreated, it can lead to severe complications like organ damage, brain problems and even death. There is no vaccine available, but antibiotics are the traditional course of treatment, he said. The invasive ticks are not native to the United States and are considered an exotic species. They originally were found in tropical environments in Asia before being detected in the U.S. in 2017. Since its initial discovery, the longhorned tick has expanded into at least 21 states, primarily in the East and Northeast, as well as the District of Columbia, according to CAES. The species was first detected in Connecticut in 2018. In both its native and invasive range, the longhorned tick is known to transmit a wide variety of pathogens, Molaei said. Researchers have found evidence of infection in field-collected specimens in the U.S. with pathogens that cause Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Bourbon virus disease and theileriosis. However, it is still unknown if the tick can spread many of these disease agents. 'What is also unusual about this species is that we have shown this tick is capable of attaching and detaching with partial blood feeding,' Molaei said. 'Most ticks will stay on a host until they are fully engorged, so this increases the risks of disease transmission. Unfortunately these ticks co-exist with lone star ticks, and to make the matter worse, both of these ticks feed on white tail deer. Deer can act as a reservoir for the bacteria that causes ehrlichiosis. Longhorned ticks can pick up the bacteria after feeding on an infected deer.' The tick species is now found scattered throughout Fairfield and New Haven counties, according Molaei. However, their range is expected to increase its range further northward. Last year, the ticks were identified in Fairfield, New London, Middlesex and New Haven counties, according to data from CAES. 'As the climate changes, we expect to see this species further north into New England and Canada,' Molaei said. 'We are fortunate that. at least for the time being, the population is rather patchy in Fairfield and New Haven counties. It is not widespread yet, but eventually it will become more widespread, and that is where the concern increases.' Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
First longhorned tick infected with life-threatening bacterium found in Fairfield County
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Tuesday says they've found the first evidence of the invasive longhorned tick infected with the potentially life-threatening Ehrlichia chaffeensis in the United States. The tick was found in Fairfield County, a member of CAES said. Invasive ticks spread across more Connecticut counties According to CAES, Ehrlichia chaffeensis is a Gram-negative bacterium that mostly spreads through the lone star tick. It causes human monocytic ehrichiosis, which can start with a sudden high fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, and fatigue within the first weeks of infection. Symptoms may also progress to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss or confusion. If its not treated quickly, HME can led to life-threatening symptoms like kidney failure and respiratory insufficiency, CAES said. Tick season 2025: What to know as disease risk rises Dr. Goudarz Molaei, a research scientist and medical entomologist who also directs the CAES Passive Tick and Tick-Borne Disease Surveillance Program (aka Tick Testing Laboratory) said: 'The first fully engorged human-parasitizing longhorned tick specimen was recorded by the CAES in 2018 from Fairfield, Connecticut, and the first populations of the tick were reported from this county in 2020. Since then, populations of longhorned ticks have expanded into a number of towns in Fairfield and New Haven Counties. Additionally, individual tick specimens have been collected from New London and other counties.' Native to eastern Asia, the longhorned tick thrives in warm and humid environments, CAES said. The longhorned tick has spread to 21 states since first discovered in the United States in 2017. It's primarily found in the east and northeast. It poses a serious danger to domestic and wild animals, especially livestock as it transmits a wide variety of pathogens, including ones that cause Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and more. However, CAES said it's unknown if the tick can spready many of those disease agents. More information can be found on the Connecticut government website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tick season 2025: What to know as disease risk rises
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — For those looking to go outside and enjoy a beautiful spring day, keep in mind that Connecticut is attracting more and more ticks, and those ticks are carrying more and more diseases. April and May are among the busiest months for scientists who study ticks. At the state Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven, the mail is full of them, and the news is not good. Invasive ticks spread across more Connecticut counties 'We are seeing new tick species coming up to our shore,' said Dr. Goudarz Molaei, a research scientist at the Agricultural Experiment Station. 'We are seeing newer disease agents also starting.' They study each tick, looking for those diseases and they are finding them in about half. 'At least 50% of black legged ticks, or deer ticks, are infected with at least one disease agent. We are seeing about 30% of deer ticks to be infected with Lyme disease,' Molaei said. They are also finding ticks with babesiosis, relapsing tick fever, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. For years, experts advised to check for ticks after spending time outside. That's still good advice, but there is a new virus that is becoming more and more prevalent in ticks in Connecticut. It's called the Powassan virus, and people can be infected much faster compared to other diseases. DEEP urges residents to take down bird feeders ahead of bear season 'That disease agent can be transmitted in less than an hour, unlike other tick borne pathogens such as Lyme disease and babesiosis that takes 24 or longer,' said Dr. Molaei Powassan virus killed at least two people in the New Haven area last year. Climate change means some ticks are active all year long, and more ticks can survive here. 'In the past few years, we have seen all these invasive tick species land on our shores and then moving forward, moving forward north,' Moulaei said. 'Yes, the outcome doesn't look that good.' The best advice: Wear light colored clothing and spray both clothes and skin with insect repellent. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
