Immature Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Collected From Peromyscus leucopus (Rodentia: Cricetidae) and Peromyscus maniculatus (Rodentia: Cricetidae) Nests in Northern Wisconsin. Issue 1 (14th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Larson, Ryan T; Lee, Xia; Zembsch, Tela; Bron, Gebbiena M; Paskewitz, Susan M
• Editors: Ginsberg, Howard
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical entomology. Volume 57:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 304
• Page End: 307
• Publication Date: 2019-08-14
• Subjects: Peromyscus -- I. scapularis -- nests -- radio telemetry; Insects as carriers of disease -- Periodicals; 616.968
• DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz133
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-2585

Abstract

Abstract: The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapulari s Say, is the primary Lyme disease vector in the eastern United States. Both immature stages of I. scapularis take blood meals from mice belonging to the genus Peromyscus . Mice are active during the night and spend the majority of diel periods in nests. Thus, immature I. scapularis have a greater opportunity to drop from Peromyscus hosts while in nests compared with the forest floor. Here, we collected 11 Peromyscus nests during a 3-mo period during which the immature I. scapularis are known to be active. We then examined nesting materials for the presence of I. scapularis . Immature I. scapularis were detected in 64% of Peromyscus nests examined. Additionally, 55% of the nests contained at least one Dermacentor variabilis Say larva. Eighty-seven percent of all larval ticks found within nests were blood-fed. Because Peromyscus spp. are highly competent reservoirs of numerous tick-borne pathogens, the ticks that detach in their nests may be important for the maintenance of tick-borne diseases. However, further studies are needed to determine the fate of the I. scapularis that detach in Peromyscus nests.