USAPHR-NORTH VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES DETECTION PROGRAM 2007-2010: WHAT WE

DID FOR CONTINGENCY DIAGNOSTICS.

Jessica Turner, USAPH Region North,

LT Kirk Mundal USN, LCDR Craig Stoops USN,

Melissa Miller USAPH Region-North,

VECTOR-BORNE DISEASE SURVEILLANCE KIT

Kit based presentationDetailed instructionsCollection materialsPre-printed return envelope

PHR-NPHR-N

PHR-N

PHR-N

UPON RECEIPT BY USAPHR-North Blood prepared and tested for appropriate

organismbased on animal species

○ PCR

Ticks, fleas, etc.IdentifiedPrepared and tested for appropriate organism

○ PCR

Test results provided to submitter and other appropriate recipients.

ANIMALS SAMPLED 2007-2009

Bagram, AF Kandahar, AF Ramadi, IQ Bagdad, IQ

Dogs 38 24 6 1

Cats 62 191 7 2

Foxes 0 1 10 1

Jackals 5 25 6 1

Coyotes 13 0 0 0

Jungle Cats 0 1 1 3

Hedgehogs 0 2 0 1

Mouse 0 1 0 0

Cow 1 0 0 0

Sheep 1 0 0 0

Goats 3 0 0 0

TOTAL 123 244 30 9

Ectoparasites Identified 2007-2009

Kandahar, AF Bagram, AF Ramadi, IQ Bagdad, IQ

Xenopsylla astia 3 6 0 0

Ctenocephalides canis

6 9 0 9

Ctenocephalides felis

3 0 0 0

Pulex irritans 5 25 7 0

Synosternus pallidus

0 0 3 0

Rhipicephalus turanicus

37 32 144 30

R. sanguineus 0 0 40 0

Hyalomma anatolicum

0 27 0 0

Ixodes rubicundus 0 0 6 0

Analysis PerformedPathogen Test Type

Anaplasma Real-time PCR

Babesia Conventional PCR

Borrelia Real-time PCR

Ehrlichia Real-time PCR

Rickettsia Real-time PCR

Results of AnalysisKandahar, AF Bagram, AF

Babesia# POSITIVE/# tested % POSITIVE

CAT

R. turanicus 3 /19 16% 3 /6 50%

Whole Blood 13 /187 7% 3 /60 5%

JACKAL

R. turanicus 1/12 8% 0/4

Whole Blood 3/25 12% 0/5

DOG

R. turanicus none 1/14 7%

Whole Blood 2/24 8% 0/16

Results of Analysis cont.Kandahar, AF Bagram, AF

Babesia# POSITIVE/# tested %POSITIVE

HEDGEHOG

R. turanicus 2/10 20% none

C. canis 1/1 100% none

Whole Blood none none

Results of Analysis cont.Ramadi, IQ Baghdad, IQ

Babesia# POSITIVE/# tested % POSITIVE

CAT

R. turanicus 1/26 4% 0/3

JACKAL

R. turanicus 1/12 8% 2/8 25%

Kandahar, AF 2008

CONCLUSIONS

Babesia species circulating in the animal and ectoparasite populations

Vector-borne diseases information can be gained with this type of surveillance

FUTURE

Conclude analysis of 2009 Iraq samples Receive samples from Iraq and

Afghanistan in 2010Several cooperators have requested supplies

Refine capability to employ serological analysis on blood samples

Update analysis platform to allow concise results for multiple pathogens in one test run

FUTURE cont.

Apply epidemiological information to the data

Receive samples from livestockCan analyze for other potential pathogens of

importance

THANK YOU

By Cpl. Matthew K. Hacker from USA War Dogs