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Despite the ubiquity of invasive organisms and their often deleterious effects on native flora and fauna, the consequences of biological invasions for human health and the ecological mechanisms through which they occur are rarely considered. Here we demonstrate that a widespread invasive shrub in North America, Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii), increases human risk of exposure to ehrlichiosis, an emerging infectious disease caused by bacterial pathogens transmitted by the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum). Using large-scale observational surveys in natural areas across the St. Louis, Missouri region, we found that white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), a preeminent tick host and pathogen reservoir, more frequently used areas invaded by honeysuckle. This habitat preference translated into considerably greater numbers of ticks infected with pathogens in honeysuckle-invaded areas relative to adjacent honeysuckle-uninvaded areas. We confirmed this biotic mechanism using an experimental removal of honeysuckle, which caused a decrease in dear activity and infected tick numbers, as well as a proportional shift in the blood meals of ticks away from deer. We conclude that disease risk is likely to be reduced when honeysuckle is eradicated, and suggest that management of biological invasions may help ameliorate the burden of vector-borne diseases on human health. Amur honeysuckle | disease ecology | ehrlichiosis | lone star tick | white-tailed deer doi/ 10.1073/pnas.1008362107

The geographical distribution of human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) in the United States reveals that HME is mostly prevalent in southeastern and southcentral states whereas HGE in northeastern and upper midwestern states. Data indicate that reported cases of these zoonotic diseases incidence increased greatly, from 69 in 1994 to 364 in 1997., The emerging tick-borne zoonoses human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) are underreported in the United States. From 1986 through 1997, 1,223 cases (742 HME, 449 HGE, and [...]

Human infection with Ehrlichia chaffeensis causes human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME), an influenza-like illness. Severity of the disease varies from mild to severe and can even cause death (1). HME cases [...]