Spatial and temporal dispersion of immature Ixodes dammini on Peromyscus leucopus in northwestern Illinois.
Infestation by immature Ixodes dammini and infection by Borrelia burgdorferi of the white-footed mouse Peromyscus leucopus were studied in Castle Rock State Park in northwestern Illinois during June-October 1990. Prevalence and intensity of infestation of larvae on mice were highest in August with a smaller peak in early June. The distribution of larvae on mice was highly aggregated during each of the sampling periods. Aggregation appears to be the result of a series of nonrandom successful attachments by single larvae, rather than of simultaneous attachment by clumps of larvae. Infection rate of mice by B. burgdorferi averaged 21.4% with a peak of 28.6% in August. A comparison of the numbers of attached immature ticks collected from mice and of questing ticks collected through dragging indicated that the larvae-to-nymph ratio was higher on mice than on drags. Given the low total numbers of nymphs collected from mice, this suggests a potential role for other hosts of I. dammini nymphs in northwestern Illinois.
Kitron
U
U
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801.
Jones
C J
CJ
Bouseman
J K
JK
D000818:Animals; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007087:Illinois / Q000453:epidemiology; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D010542:Peromyscus / Q000469:parasitology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission; D012621:Seasons; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013987:Ticks / Q000254:growth & development*