Determinants of Infectivity of Pathogens in Vector Ticks
Abstract
This report describes progress on research in which the main goal is to define the physiological properties of ticks that determine the infectivity of pathogens that they transmit. We determined whether female deer ticks Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae) can be inseminated repeatedly and whether sperm from either mating take precedence in fertilizing eggs. By infesting deer with irradiated male I. dammini, the abundance of these vector ticks may effectively be reduced. The spirochetal agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, disseminated from the guts of infected Ixodes dammini ticks following host attachment and appeared in slaiva before rapid engorgement commenced. This salivary route of infection appears to be the route of Lyme disease transmission in nature.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 15, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA242706
Entities
People
- Andrew Spielman
Organizations
- Harvard University