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FACTORS INFLUENCING THE DISTRIBUTION OF LARVAL BLACKLEGGED TICKS ON RODENT HOSTS

Because of differences among hosts in reservoir competence for tick-borne diseases, the distribution of larval blacklegged ticks on hosts might determine tick infection prevalence and disease risk to humans. We conducted a three-part study to determine the factors responsible for greater burdens of larval blacklegged ticks on white-footed mice than on eastern chipmunks. A microhabitat study indicated that questing ticks have higher encounter rates with mice than with chipmunks. Laboratory experiments demonstrated that ticks oriented more strongly toward mice. However, larval ticks fed more successfully from chipmunks. Our results strongly suggest that mice are both more likely to use larval tick-infested microhabitats and to attract questing larvae than are chipmunks, leading to a dramatically higher initial infestation rate, which is then reduced by greater grooming activity by mice. The high mortality rate of larvae that were experimentally introduced onto mice suggests that grooming is a significant cause of mortality to larval blacklegged ticks.

Received October 14, 2002. Accepted for publication December 26, 2002.

Acknowledgments: This is a contribution to the program of the Institute of Ecosystem Studies.

Financial support: This research was funded by a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) grant from the National Science Foundation (DBI-9988029) to the Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY, a grant from the National Institutes of Health to Richard S. Ostfeld and Felicia Keesing (R01 AI-040076), and a grant from the National Science Foundation to Richard S. Ostfeld and C. D. Canham (DEB-0075277).

Authors’ addresses: Margaret T. Shaw and Robert McGrail, Departments of Biology and Computer Science, Bard College, Annandale, NY 12504. Felicia Keesing, Department of Biology, Bard College, Annandale, NY 12504 and Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY 12545. Richard S. Ostfeld, Institute of Ecosystem Studies, PO Box AB, 65 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook, NY 12545, Telephone: 845-677-5343, Fax: 845-677-5976, E-mail: rostfeld{at}ecostudies.org

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