Community composition of Ixodid ticks parasitizing American black bears in Missouri, USA

Al-Warid, Harith Saeed; Beringer, Jeff; Hiller, Tim L.; Belant, Jerrold L.; Gompper, Matthew E.

doi:10.2192/ursu-d-16-00008.1

Cited by 4 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Black bears have a broad geographic range across North America and can travel long distances, especially dispersing male bears ( Lee and Vaughan, 2003 ; Liley and Walker, 2015 ), and this behavior may influence distribution of parasites that use this animal as a host. Ectoparasite surveys of black bears have been limited ( Addison et al, 1978 ), but this species has been found to host several species of fleas ( Rogers and Rogers, 1976 ; Addison et al, 1978 ), lice ( Hopkins, 1954 ; Scholten, 1962 ; Rogers and Rogers, 1976 ; Addison et al, 1978 ), and ticks ( Rogers and Rogers, 1976 ; Furman and Loomis, 1984 ; Yabsley et al, 2009 ; Al-Warid et al, 2016 ) . However, many of these ectoparasite surveys were conducted before the etiological agents of various tick-borne diseases were known and tick species distribution and abundance in many areas of the northeastern United States has changed in recent years ( Pak et al, 2019 ; Sonenshine, 2018 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wild animals, especially large-bodied, habitat generalist species like black bears, can also serve as sentinels for tick detection as on-host tick surveillance is less influenced by short-term weather and environmental conditions and vegetation that can disrupt host-seeking tick surveillance strategies ( Merrill et al, 2018 ). Black bears could be important in tick dispersal and ecology ( Al-Warid et al, 2016 ) as well as useful sentinel hosts for tick surveillance ( Merrill et al, 2018 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies of ticks on wild mammals other than white-tailed deer and white-footed mice most frequently consist of opportunistic tick collections (e.g. Al-Warid et al, 2016 ; Skinner et al, 2017 ) or timed surveys (e.g Zolnik et al, 2015 ). Opportunistic surveys have revealed that ticks are regularly found on black bears and have been documented parasitizing nearly all black bear populations evaluated in North America ( Skinner et al, 2017 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Opportunistic surveys have revealed that ticks are regularly found on black bears and have been documented parasitizing nearly all black bear populations evaluated in North America ( Skinner et al, 2017 ). However, as a large mammal capable of hosting high tick burdens ( Al-Warid et al, 2016 ), black bears present a particular challenge for accurate tick burden surveys, especially for live animals when time is a critical constraint for sampling efforts. A consistent and standardized method for assessing tick burden has not yet been developed for this large mammal.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The role of black bears as hosts for different tick species, tick life-stages, and movement of ticks over the landscape requires further evaluation to better understand the role these large mammals serve in tick ecology ( Al-Warid et al, 2016 ; Zolnik et al, 2015 ). The purpose of this study was to evaluate tick species, abundance, and life-stages present on black bears in Pennsylvania and to evaluate tick spatial distribution on black bears in order to improve surveillance techniques.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tick abundance and life-stage segregation on the American black bear (Ursus americanus)

Tiffin

Skvarla

Machtinger

2021

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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Tick abundance and diagnosed cases of tick-borne diseases have been increasing in the United States. American black bear ( Ursus americanus ) populations have also been increasing in the eastern United States. As a competent host of several species of ticks and a mammal capable of traveling long distances, the role of black bears as hosts for ticks requires further evaluation. Ectoparasite surveys were conducted on black bears in Pennsylvania to evaluate tick presence, abundance, spatial distribution, and association with Sarcoptes scabiei, the etiological agent of sarcoptic mange , on bears to better understand their role in tick ecology and to improve on-host surveillance techniques. Tick burden was evaluated using standard area sampling (10.16 × 10.16 cm squares) on pre-designated body regions on black bears from June 2018–December 2019. In total, 278 unique individual black bears were evaluated, with all ticks identified as Ixodes scapularis ( n = 1976; 76.7% adults, 23.3% immatures). Tick presence differed by body region on bears, with the highest percentage of tick observations located on bear ears and muzzle. Ticks also partitioned on black bears by life-stage, with immature ticks primarily recorded on the lower extremities of bears and adult ticks primarily recorded on the front-quarters of bears. This includes the first known record of I. scapularis larvae parasitizing black bears, and observations of all three mobile life-stages concurrently parasitizing bears. Tick abundance was also statistically significant dependent on season, with the highest abundance of ticks recorded in spring and lowest abundance in fall. Adult ticks were less likely to be present on bears with mange. These data reveal the important role black bears may serve in tick ecology and dispersal as all three mobile life-stages of I. scapularis were found parasitizing a mammal capable of traveling far distances in a region with high numbers of Lyme disease cases.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Tick abundance and life-stage segregation on the American black bear (Ursus americanus)

Tiffin

Skvarla

Machtinger

2021

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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The role of Ixodes scapularis, Borrelia burgdorferi and wildlife hosts in Lyme disease prevalence: A quantitative review

Halsey

Allan

Miller

2018

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases

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Due to the ongoing expansion of Ixodes scapularis (blacklegged tick) throughout the northeastern and midwestern United States, there is need to identify the role wildlife hosts play in the establishment and maintenance of tick populations. To quantify and synthesize the patterns of I. scapularis and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and sensu lato prevalence relative to wildlife hosts, we reviewed the findings of independent studies conducted throughout the United States. We performed a comprehensive literature search from 1970 to 2017 using the ISS Web of Science Core Collection and the keywords "Ixodes scapularis," "Ixodes dammini" and "Borrelia burgdorferi." We identified 116 studies for inclusion in our meta-analysis, with 187,414 individual wildlife hosts captured and examined for I. scapularis and either the host or ticks collected subsequently tested for B. burgdorferi. We found that only 13% of the wildlife mammals sampled comprised species other than Odocoileus virginianus (white-tailed deer) and Peromyscus leucopus (white-footed mouse). To examine whether there were regional differences between the Northeast, Midwest and the Southeast U.S. in I. scapularis infestation rates on wildlife hosts, we used general linear models (glm), with post hoc pairwise comparisons. In most cases, detection of I. scapularis and B. burgdorferi was significantly higher in the Northeast than the Midwest. Using data on host-specific I. scapularis infestation prevalence, B. burgdorferi prevalence in feeding larvae, and host permissiveness, we developed an epizootiological model to determine the relative contributions of individual hosts to B. burgdorferi-infected nymphs. Our model provides additional evidence that wildlife hosts other than P. leucopus may contribute more to Lyme disease risk than commonly thought. To aid in understanding the ecology of Lyme disease, we propose that additional studies sample non-Peromyscus spp. hosts to obtain more detailed tick and pathogen infestation and infection estimates, respectively, for these less frequently sampled wildlife hosts.

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The Contribution of Wildlife Hosts to the Rise of Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases in North America

Tsao

Hamer

Han

et al. 2021

Journal of Medical Entomology

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Wildlife vertebrate hosts are integral to enzootic cycles of tick-borne pathogens, and in some cases have played key roles in the recent rise of ticks and tick-borne diseases in North America. In this forum article, we highlight roles that wildlife hosts play in the maintenance and transmission of zoonotic, companion animal, livestock, and wildlife tick-borne pathogens. We begin by illustrating how wildlife contribute directly and indirectly to the increase and geographic expansion of ticks and their associated pathogens. Wildlife provide blood meals for tick growth and reproduction; serve as pathogen reservoirs; and can disperse ticks and pathogens—either through natural movement (e.g., avian migration) or through human-facilitated movement (e.g., wildlife translocations and trade). We then discuss opportunities to manage tick-borne disease through actions directed at wildlife hosts. To conclude, we highlight key gaps in our understanding of the ecology of tick–host interactions, emphasizing that wildlife host communities are themselves a very dynamic component of tick–pathogen–host systems and therefore complicate management of tick-borne diseases, and should be taken into account when considering host-targeted approaches. Effective management of wildlife to reduce tick-borne disease risk further requires consideration of the ‘human dimensions’ of wildlife management. This includes understanding the public’s diverse views and values about wildlife and wildlife impacts—including the perceived role of wildlife in fostering tick-borne diseases. Public health agencies should capitalize on the expertise of wildlife agencies when developing strategies to reduce tick-borne disease risks.

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Community composition of Ixodid ticks parasitizing American black bears in Missouri, USA

Cited by 4 publications

References 32 publications

Tick abundance and life-stage segregation on the American black bear (Ursus americanus)

Tick abundance and life-stage segregation on the American black bear (Ursus americanus)

The role of Ixodes scapularis, Borrelia burgdorferi and wildlife hosts in Lyme disease prevalence: A quantitative review

The Contribution of Wildlife Hosts to the Rise of Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases in North America

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