@article{richardson_garshong_chen_crossley_mclean_wasserberg_apperson_roe_ponnusamy_2024, title={Orientia, Rickettsia, and the microbiome in rodent attached chiggers in North Carolina, USA}, volume={19}, ISSN={["1932-6203"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311698}, DOI={10.1371/journal.pone.0311698}, abstractNote={Chiggers are larval mites that pose a significant health risk globally via the spread of scrub typhus. However, fundamental studies into the bacterial microbiome in North America have never been considered. In this investigation, chiggers were collected in the wild from two locally common rodent host species (i.e., Sigmodon hispidus and Peromyscus leucopus ) in three different ecoregions of North Carolina (NC), United States to investigate the composition of their bacterial communities, including potential pathogens. DNA was extracted from the chiggers, and the V3-V4 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene were sequenced using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Alpha diversity metrics revealed significant differences in bacterial diversity among different collection counties. Beta diversity metrics also revealed that bacterial communities across counties were significantly different, suggesting changes in the microbiome as the environment changed. Specifically, we saw that the two western NC collection counties had similar bacterial composition as did the two eastern collection counties. In addition, we found that the chigger microbiome bacterial diversity and composition differed between rodent host species. The 16S rRNA sequence reads were assigned to 64 phyla, 106 orders, 199 families, and 359 genera. The major bacterial phylum was Actinobacteria. The most abundant species were in the genera Corynebacterium , Propionibacterium , class ZB2, and Methylobacterium . Sequences derived from potential pathogens within the genera Orientia and Rickettsia were also detected. Our findings provide the first insights into the ecology of chigger microbiomes in the US. Further research is required to determine if the potential pathogens found detected in chiggers are a threat to humans and wildlife.}, number={12}, journal={PLOS ONE}, author={Richardson, Elise A. and Garshong, Reuben and Chen, Kaiying and Crossley, Dac and Mclean, Bryan S. and Wasserberg, Gideon and Apperson, Charles S. and Roe, R. Michael and Ponnusamy, Loganathan}, editor={Ganta, Roman R.Editor}, year={2024}, month={Dec} }
@article{garshong_richardson_chen_cave_roe_2025, title={Use of diatomaceous earth to control nymphal American dog ticks, Dermacentor variabilis Say (Acari: Ixodidae): laboratory to simulated field experiments}, volume={94}, ISSN={["1572-9702"]}, DOI={10.1007/s10493-024-00972-x}, number={1}, journal={EXPERIMENTAL AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY}, author={Garshong, Reuben A. and Richardson, Elise A. and Chen, Kaiying and Cave, Grayson L. and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2025}, month={Jan} }
@article{cave_richardson_chen_watson_roe_2023, title={Acaricidal Biominerals and Mode-of-Action Studies against Adult Blacklegged Ticks, Ixodes scapularis}, volume={11}, ISSN={["2076-2607"]}, url={https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/8/1906}, DOI={10.3390/microorganisms11081906}, abstractNote={Ticks in the USA are the most important arthropod vector of microbes that cause human and animal disease. The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, the focus of this study, is able to transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme disease in humans in the USA. The main approach to tick control is the use of chemical acaricides and repellents, but known and potential tick resistance to these chemicals requires the discovery of new methods of control. Volcanic glass, Imergard, was recently developed to mimic the insecticide mode of action of the minerals from diatoms (diatomaceous earth, DE) for the control of malaria mosquitoes in Africa. However, studies on the use of these minerals for tick control are minimal. In a dipping assay, which was put into DE (Celite), the times of 50 and 90% death of adult female I. scapularis were 7.3 and 10.5 h, respectively. Our mimic of DE, Imergard, killed ticks in 6.7 and 11.2 h, respectively. In a choice-mortality assay, ticks moved onto a treated surface of Imergard and died at 11.2 and 15.8 h, respectively. Ticks had greater locomotor activity before death when treated by dipping for both Imergard and Celite versus the no-mineral control. The ticks after making contact with Imergard had the mineral covering most of their body surface shown by scanning electron microscopy with evidence of Imergard inside their respiratory system. Although the assumed mode of action of Imergard and Celite is dehydration, the minerals are not hygroscopic, there was no evidence of cuticle damage, and death occurred in as little as 2 h, suggesting minimal abrasive action of the cuticle. Semi-field and field studies are needed in the future to examine the practical use of Imergard and Celite for tick control, and studies need to examine their effect on tick breathing and respiratory retention of water.}, number={8}, journal={MICROORGANISMS}, author={Cave, Grayson L. and Richardson, Elise A. and Chen, Kaiying and Watson, David W. and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2023}, month={Aug} }
@article{richardson_ponnusamy_roe_2022, title={Mechanical Acaricides Active against the Blacklegged Tick, Ixodes scapularis}, volume={13}, ISSN={["2075-4450"]}, url={https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/8/672}, DOI={10.3390/insects13080672}, abstractNote={Cases of Lyme disease in humans are on the rise in the United States and Canada. The vector of the bacteria that causes this disease is the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis. Current control methods for I. scapularis mainly involve chemical acaricides. Unfortunately, ticks are developing resistance to these chemicals, and more and more, the public prefers non-toxic alternatives to chemical pesticides. We discovered that volcanic glass, ImergardTM WP, and other industrial minerals such as Celite 610 were efficacious mechanical insecticides against mosquitoes, filth flies, and agricultural pests. In this report, when 6–10- and 50–70-day old unfed I. scapularis nymphs were dipped for 1–2 s into Celite, the time to 50% mortality (LT50) was 66.8 and 81.7 min, respectively, at 30 °C and 50% relative humidity (RH). The LT50 was actually shorter at a higher 70% RH, 43.8 min. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the ticks were coated over most of their body surface, including partial to almost total coverage of the opening to their respiratory system. The other mechanical insecticide, Imergard, had similar efficacy against blacklegged unfed nymphs with an LT50 at 30 °C and 50% RH of 70.4 min. Although more research is needed, this study suggests that industrial minerals could be used as an alternative to chemical pesticides to control ticks and Lyme disease.}, number={8}, journal={INSECTS}, author={Richardson, Elise A. and Ponnusamy, Loganathan and Roe, R. Michael}, year={2022}, month={Aug} }