@article{saenz_maggi_breitschwerdt_kim_vargo_schal_2013, title={Survey of Bartonella spp. in U.S. Bed Bugs Detects Burkholderia multivorans but Not Bartonella}, volume={8}, ISSN={1932-6203}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0073661}, DOI={10.1371/journal.pone.0073661}, abstractNote={Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.) have resurged in the United States and globally. Bed bugs are hematophagous ectoparasites of humans and other animals, including domestic pets, chickens, and bats, and their blood feeding habits contribute to their potential as disease vectors. Several species of Bartonella are re-emergent bacterial pathogens that also affect humans, domestic pets, bats and a number of other wildlife species. Because reports of both bed bugs and Bartonella have been increasing in the U.S., and because their host ranges can overlap, we investigated whether the resurgences of these medically important pathogens and their potential vector might be linked, by screening for Bartonella spp. in bed bugs collected from geographic areas where these pathogens are prevalent and from bed bugs that have been in culture in the laboratory for several years. We screened a total of 331 bed bugs: 316 bed bugs from 36 unique collections in 29 geographic locations in 13 states, 10 bed bugs from two colonies maintained in the laboratory for 3 yr, and 5 bed bugs from a colony that has been in culture since before the recent resurgence of bed bugs. Bartonella spp. DNA was screened using a polymerase chain reaction assay targeting the 16S–23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer region. Bartonella DNA was not amplified from any bed bug, but five bed bugs from four different apartments of an elderly housing building in North Carolina contained DNA sequences that corresponded to Burkholderia multivorans, an important pathogen in nosocomial infections that was not previously linked to an arthropod vector.}, number={9}, journal={PLoS ONE}, publisher={Public Library of Science (PLoS)}, author={Saenz, Virna L. and Maggi, Ricardo G. and Breitschwerdt, Edward B. and Kim, Jung and Vargo, Edward L. and Schal, Coby}, editor={Palli, Subba ReddyEditor}, year={2013}, month={Sep}, pages={e73661} }
 @article{saenz_booth_schal_vargo_2012, title={Genetic Analysis of Bed Bug Populations Reveals Small Propagule Size Within Individual Infestations but High Genetic Diversity Across Infestations From the Eastern United States}, volume={49}, ISSN={0022-2585 1938-2928}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/ME11202}, DOI={10.1603/me11202}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT 
 Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.) are a resurgent pest worldwide and infestations within the United States are increasing at a rapid rate. Because of the physical and psychological discomfort inflicted by their blood feeding habits, and allergies and secondary infections associated with bites, bed bugs are recognized as a significant public health problem. Although bed bug infestations are spreading and becoming more prevalent, we have a poor understanding of their dispersal patterns and sources of infestation. To help fill this gap, we conducted a genetic study of 21 bed bug infestations from the eastern United States, nearly all of which came from single rooms within residences. We genotyped samples comprised of 8–10 individuals per infestation at nine polymorphic microsatellite loci. Despite high genetic diversity across all infestations, with 5–17 alleles per locus (mean = 10.3 alleles per locus), we found low genetic diversity (1–4 alleles per locus) within all but one of the infestations. These results suggest that nearly all the studied infestations were started by a small propagule possibly consisting of a singly mated female and/or her progeny, or a female mated with multiple males that were highly related to her. All infestations were strongly genetically differentiated from each other (mean pairwise F ST between populations = 0.68) and we did not find strong evidence of a geographic pattern of genetic structure, indicating infestations located in closer proximity to each other were nearly as genetically differentiated as those located hundreds of kilometers away. The high level of genetic diversity across infestations from the eastern United States together with the lack of geographically organized structure is consistent with multiple introductions into the United States from foreign sources.}, number={4}, journal={Journal of Medical Entomology}, publisher={Oxford University Press (OUP)}, author={Saenz, Virna L. and Booth, Warren and Schal, Coby and Vargo, Edward L.}, year={2012}, month={Jul}, pages={865–875} }
 @article{booth_saenz_santangelo_wang_schal_vargo_2012, title={Molecular Markers Reveal Infestation Dynamics of the Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) Within Apartment Buildings}, volume={49}, ISSN={0022-2585 1938-2928}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/ME11256}, DOI={10.1603/me11256}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT 
 The bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), has experienced an extraordinary global resurgence in recent years, the reasons for which remain poorly understood. Once considered a pest of lower socioeconomic classes, bed bugs are now found extensively across all residential settings, with widespread infestations established in multiapartment buildings. Within such buildings, understanding the population genetic structure and patterns of dispersal may prove critical to the development of effective control strategies. Here, we describe the development of 24 high-resolution microsatellite markers through next generation 454 pyrosequencing and their application to elucidate infestation dynamics within three multistory apartment buildings in the United States. Results reveal contrasting characteristics potentially representative of geographic or locale differences. In Raleigh, NC, an infestation within an apartment building seemed to have started from a single introduction followed by extensive spread. In Jersey City, NJ, two or more introductions followed by spread are evident in two buildings. Populations within single apartments in all buildings were characterized by high levels of relatedness and low levels of diversity, indicative of foundation from small, genetically depauperate propagules. Regardless of the number of unique introductions, genetic data indicate that spread within buildings is extensive, supporting both active and human-mediated dispersal within and between adjacent rooms or apartments spanning multiple floors.}, number={3}, journal={Journal of Medical Entomology}, publisher={Oxford University Press (OUP)}, author={Booth, Warren and Saenz, Virna L. and Santangelo, Richard G. and Wang, Changlu and Schal, Coby and Vargo, Edward L.}, year={2012}, month={May}, pages={535–546} }