Who Feeds on Whom? Identifying Ticks Feeding on Mammal
Abstract/Description/Artist Statement
Study of tick-host association is critical to understanding host-pathogen ecology. Collection of ticks from mammalian hosts is difficult because of permitting, cost, and time considerations, particularly for medium and large mammals. The ODU Tick Research Team has been collecting ticks from mammals since 2010 using a combination of serendipitous sampling from roadkill and donations from veterinarians, hunters, and wildlife rehabilitators. In this work, we quantify the association between Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes keiransi and various mammalian hosts in Virginia. Ixodes scapularis (deer tick or blacklegged tick) is the primary vector of the Lyme disease bacterium (Borrelia burgdorferi s.s.) in the eastern US. Ixodes keiransi is not known to bite humans but maintains B. burgdorferi in the sylvatic cycle. Ticks were morphologically identified under a dissection microscope using published dichotomous keys. Identification of some specimens was difficult because of engorgement or damage. Ticks not morphologically identified were tested using a qPCR assay to identify I. scapularis or I. keiransi. Ticks not identified with qPCR or morphological methods are currently being sequenced. Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were heavily parasitized by both Ixodes spp., harboring 80.1% and 47.9% of the total number of I. scapularis and I. keiransi, respectively. The highest mean intensity (16.2) was found for I. scapularis on deer. The majority of I. keiransi (89%) were found on deer, domestic cats (Felis catus), and domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). The results of this work greatly improve our knowledge of tick-host associations in Virginia.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Dr. David Gauthier
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Email
dgauthie@odu.edu
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Department of Biological Sciences
College/School Affiliation
College of Sciences
Student Level Group
Undergraduate
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Who Feeds on Whom? Identifying Ticks Feeding on Mammal
Study of tick-host association is critical to understanding host-pathogen ecology. Collection of ticks from mammalian hosts is difficult because of permitting, cost, and time considerations, particularly for medium and large mammals. The ODU Tick Research Team has been collecting ticks from mammals since 2010 using a combination of serendipitous sampling from roadkill and donations from veterinarians, hunters, and wildlife rehabilitators. In this work, we quantify the association between Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes keiransi and various mammalian hosts in Virginia. Ixodes scapularis (deer tick or blacklegged tick) is the primary vector of the Lyme disease bacterium (Borrelia burgdorferi s.s.) in the eastern US. Ixodes keiransi is not known to bite humans but maintains B. burgdorferi in the sylvatic cycle. Ticks were morphologically identified under a dissection microscope using published dichotomous keys. Identification of some specimens was difficult because of engorgement or damage. Ticks not morphologically identified were tested using a qPCR assay to identify I. scapularis or I. keiransi. Ticks not identified with qPCR or morphological methods are currently being sequenced. Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were heavily parasitized by both Ixodes spp., harboring 80.1% and 47.9% of the total number of I. scapularis and I. keiransi, respectively. The highest mean intensity (16.2) was found for I. scapularis on deer. The majority of I. keiransi (89%) were found on deer, domestic cats (Felis catus), and domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). The results of this work greatly improve our knowledge of tick-host associations in Virginia.