title: Experimental evaluation of Peromyscus leucopus as a reservoir host of the Ehrlichia muris-like agent.
abstract: The Ehrlichia muris-like agent (EMLA) is a newly recognized human pathogen in the North Central United States. Although blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) have been identified as capable vectors, wild reservoirs have not yet been established for EMLA. As key hosts for I. scapularis, white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) are important reservoirs for various tick-borne pathogens, and potentially, for EMLA. The objective of this study was to evaluate reservoir competence in P. leucopus using a natural vector.
  
  
  
  Mice acquired EMLA infection from feeding ticks and were able to transmit infection to naïve ticks. Transmission between simultaneously feeding tick life stages was also demonstrated. Infections in mice were acute and severe, with systemic dissemination. Limited host survival and clearance of infection among survivors resulted in a narrow interval where EMLA could be acquired by feeding ticks.
  
  
  
  Peromyscus leucopus is a competent reservoir of EMLA and likely to play a role in its enzootic transmission cycle. The duration and severity of EMLA infection in these hosts suggests that tick phenology is a critical factor determining the geographic distribution of EMLA in North America.
authors.affiliation: Entomology Department, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, 1980 Folwell Ave, St. Paul, MN, USA. lynnx044@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Geoffrey E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lynn
authors.affiliation: Entomology Department, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, 1980 Folwell Ave, St. Paul, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.affiliation: Masonic Cancer Center Comparative Pathology Shared Resource, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cornax
authors.affiliation: Masonic Cancer Center Comparative Pathology Shared Resource, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: M Gerard
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Entomology Department, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, 1980 Folwell Ave, St. Paul, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Ulrike G
authors.initials: UG
authors.lastname: Munderloh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000382:microbiology*; D004536:Ehrlichia / Q000502:physiology*; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010542:Peromyscus / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Anaplasmataceae; EMLA; Ehrlichia muris; Ixodes scapularis; Peromyscus leucopus; Reservoir competence; Tick phenology