Tick infestations of white-tailed deer in Alabama.
Four species of ticks were collected from 537 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), examined during the hunting seasons (November to January) of 1988-89 and 1989-90 at selected locations in Alabama (USA). Ixodes scapularis was the most common tick recovered (2,060 specimens) and infested 54% of the deer. Dermacentor albipictus was the second most frequent tick (1,253 specimens) and infested 15% of the deer. Amblyomma americanum was the third most frequent tick (315 specimens) and infested 24% of the deer; this was the only species of tick collected from deer at all sampling locations. Amblyomma maculatum was an infrequent parasite (five specimens) and infested only 1% of the deer; this tick species was only recorded during the 1989-90 season. Year-to-year and geographical differences in tick infestation parameters were noted. The data are compared with those reported for previous surveys of ticks infesting white-tailed deer in Alabama and adjacent states.
Durden
L A
LA
Department of Entomology, Auburn University, Alabama 36849.
Luckhart
S
S
Mullen
G R
GR
Smith
S
S
D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003670:Deer / Q000469:parasitology*; D003870:Dermacentor / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D015994:Incidence; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013987:Ticks / Q000302:isolation & purification*