Bourbon Virus in Field-Collected Ticks, Missouri, USA

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Entomology

Background:

• Bourbon virus (BRBV) is a recently identified pathogen first isolated in 2014.
• Human cases of BRBV infection have been documented in Kansas and Oklahoma.

Observation:

• A retrospective study analyzed 39,096 ticks collected from northwestern Missouri.
• BRBV was detected in three pools of Amblyomma americanum ticks.
• Positive tick pools included adult males and nymphs.

Findings:

• Amblyomma americanum ticks, known for aggressive human-biting behavior and abundance in the region, were found to harbor BRBV.
• The presence of BRBV in this tick species supports its role as a potential vector for human transmission.
• No evidence of BRBV was found in nonhuman vertebrates during this study.

Implications:

• This research identifies a likely vector for Bourbon virus, crucial for understanding and preventing human infections.
• Further investigation into the ecology and behavior of Amblyomma americanum is warranted to fully elucidate BRBV transmission dynamics.
• Understanding BRBV's natural history is essential for developing effective public health strategies and diagnostic tools.