Authors: Kollars, Thomas M.; Ladine, Troy A.

Source: Journal of Medical Entomology, Volume 36, Number 3, May 1999 , pp. 263-267(5)

Publisher: Entomological Society of America

Abstract:

A mark-recapture study of raccoons (Procyon lotor L.) and Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana Kerr) was conducted from February 1991 through April 1994 to determine host interactions with adult Dermacentor variabilis Say. We captured 1,293 raccoons and Virginia opossums during the 3-yr study (140 individual raccoons and 160 individual Virginia opossums) with 1,895 adult D. variabilis collected. Raccoons had a significantly higher mean intensity and higher prevalence of adult ticks than Virginia opossums (Mann-Whitney Z = 6.15, χ² = 51.9, P < 0.001). Mean intensity follows Margolis et al. (1982) as being the mean number of parasite species per infected host. Prevalence follows Margolis et al. (1982) as being the number of individuals of the host species infected with a parasite species divided by the number of hosts examined. The time required for a higher prevalence and mean intensity of ticks to occur on raccoons than Virginia opossums was <7 d. No significant differences occurred between the mean intensity or prevalence of D. variabilis between sexes or among age classes of raccoons. Significant differences in prevalence and mean intensity of ticks occurred between sexes and among age classes of Virginia opossums. Infestation increased by 0.64 ticks per day on Virginia opossums and 1.77/d on raccoons during the first 7 d. The base host finding rate (ticks per host per day) of adult D. variabilis on Virginia opossums was 0.064 and 0.053 on raccoons. Tick interactions with hosts are quantified and may reflect behavioral differences between sexes and among age groups intraspecifically, and host preferences of adult D. variabilis interspecifically.

Keywords: Dermacentor variabilis; host parasite interaction; raccoon; opossum

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 1999-05-01

More about this publication?

• Journal of Medical Entomology is published bimonthly in January, March, May, July, September, and November. The journal publishes reports on all phases of medical entomology and medical acarology, including the systematics and biology of insects, acarines, and other arthropods of public health and veterinary significance.
  
  The journal is divided into the following sections: Morphology, Systematics, Evolution; Sampling, Distribution, Dispersal; Development, Life History; Population and Community Ecology; Behavior, Chemical Ecology; Population Biology/Genetics; Molecular Biology/Genomics; Neurobiology, Physiology, Biochemistry; Vector Control, Pest Management, Resistance, Repellents; Arthropod/Host Interaction, Immunity; Vector/Pathogen/Host Interaction, Transmission; Vector-Borne Diseases, Surveillance, Prevention; Direct Injury, Myiasis, Forensics; Modeling/GIS, Risk Assessment, Economic Impact. In addition to full-length research articles, the journal publishes interpretive articles in a Forum section, Short Communications, Rapid Communications, and Book Reviews.
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