Infectious Diseases Grand Rounds

SPEAKER: Hayley Yaglom, MS, MPH

TITLE: "Rickettsial Tick-borne Diseases in Arizona"

Speaker bio:
Hayley Yaglom has worked with the Arizona Department of Health Services since the summer of 2014 as a vector-borne and zoonotic disease epidemiologist. In this role, she conducts surveillance, preparedness, prevention, and outreach activities with state, local, and tribal partners across Arizona. Hayley works largely with tribal communities to combat the continued public health threat of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Hayley graduated with a MPH in Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology from the University of Missouri. She also received a Masters of Science from the University of Massachusetts, and has a strong background in the veterinary sciences. Hayley's passion is examining ways to use animals as a surveillance tool to predict risk for human disease through a One Health paradigm.

"Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, emerged in Arizona in 2003, with more than 360 cases and 21 deaths to date. The majority of cases have occurred following exposures on tribal lands. Since 2014, cases of another tick-borne disease, Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis, have occurred in remote areas of southern Arizona. These closely related bacteria cause rash-associated febrile illnesses that may be difficult to diagnose in the early stages of infection. While RMSF can be rapidly progressive and result in death if not treated appropriately, R. parkeri rickettsiosis is typically less severe. Both infections are treated effectively with doxycycline. Between 2014 and 2016, five R. parkeri cases were identified in Arizona.  In comparison, fewer than 40 cases have been identified in the U.S. as a whole in the last 10 years. This disease is spread by ticks, and 2016 surveillance in Arizona identified a particular kind of tick, Amblyomma maculatum (Gulf Coast tick), as the vector. The tick was found in the Pajarito Wilderness, San Pedro Mountains, and Santa Rita Mountains. Molecular testing by CDC found that >20% of the collected ticks in these areas were carrying R. parkeri."

CONTACT: For more information, please email or call Andrew Pritchard or Myrna Seiter, (520) 626-6887.

This University of Arizona event is sponsored by the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, UA College of Medicine - Tucson. It is open to the public, particularly community physicians and other interested health-care professionals.