Host-pathogen associations inferred from bloodmeal analyses of Ixodes scapularis ticks in a low biodiversity setting.

ABSTRACT: Tick-borne pathogen emergence is dependent on the abundance and distribution of competent hosts in the environment. Ixodes scapularis ticks are generalist feeders, and their pathogen infection prevalence depends on their relative feeding on local competent and non-competent hosts. The ability to determine what host a larval life stage tick fed on can help predict infection prevalence, emergence, and spread of certain tick-borne pathogens and the risks posed to public health. Here, we use a newly developed genomic target-based technique to detect the source of larval bloodmeals by sampling questing nymphs from Block Island, RI, a small island with a depauperate mammalian community. We used previously designed specific assays to target all known hosts on this island and analyzed ticks

SUBMITTER: Tufts DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11409645 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature