Details:

Alternative Title:
Parasitology
Personal Author:
Devevey, G. ; Brisson, D.
Devevey, G. ; Brisson, D. Less -
Description:
Parasites are often aggregated on a minority of the individuals in their host populations. Although host characteristics are commonly presumed to explain parasite aggregation on hosts, spatio-temporal aggregation of parasites during their host-seeking stages may have a dominant effect on the aggregation on hosts. We aimed to quantify, using mixed models, repeatability and autocorrelation analyses, the degree to which the aggregation of blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) on white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) is influenced by spatio-temporal distributions of the host-seeking ticks and by heterogeneity among mice. Host-seeking ticks were spatially aggregated at both the larval and nymphal life-stages. However, this spatial aggregation accounted for little of the variation in larval and nymphal burdens observed on mice (3% and 0%, respectively). Conversely, mouse identity accounted for a substantial proportion of the variance in tick burdens. Mouse identity was a significant explanatory factor as the majority of ticks parasitized a consistent set of mice throughout the activity seasons. Of the characteristics associated with mouse identity investigated, only gender affected larval burdens, and body mass and home range sizes in males were correlated with nymphal burdens. These analyses suggest that aggregation of ticks on a minority of mice does not result from the distribution of host-seeking ticks but from characteristics of the hosts.
Subject:
[+]
Animals
Host-Parasite Interactions
Ixodes
Larva
Nymph
Peromyscus
Population Density
Rodent Diseases
Tick Infestations

Source:
Parasitology. 2012; 139(7).
Pubmed ID:
22409977
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC3856707
Document Type:
Journal Article
Funding:
R01 AI076342/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI076342/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; CK000170/CK/NCEZID CDC HHS/United States
R01 AI076342/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI076342/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; CK000170/CK/NCEZID CDC HHS/United States Less -
Place as Subject:
Pennsylvania
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:e1d955be52695036a266115a35d3195d69db30c424f7efa207c67c452c1b1c64
File Type:

Supporting Files

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