title: Pathogenicity of Bacillus thuringiensis variety kurstaki to Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae).
abstract: Pathogenicity of the entomopathogenic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis variety kurstaki de Barjac & Lemille was tested against the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say. Engorged larvae dipped in a solution of 10(8) spores per milliliter showed 96% mortality 3 wk after infection. The LC50 value for engorged larve (concentration required to kill 50% of ticks) was 10(7) spores per milliliter. B. thuringiensis shows considerable potential as a microbial control agent for the management of I. scapularis.
authors.affiliation: Plant Sciences Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston 02881, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zhioua
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heyer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Browning
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Ginsberg
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: LeBrun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D018884:Ixodes / Q000382:microbiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000469:parasitology; D013171:Spores, Bacterial