Host preferences and temporal trends of the tick Ixodes angustus in north-central Alberta

We examined host preferences and temporal trends of the tick Ixodes angustus on small mammals in north-central Alberta. Small mammals were live-trapped from 1 June to 29 September 1994 and 3 May to 30 June 1995 in mature aspen (Populus tremuloides) forest near Lac La Biche, Alberta. Abundance of fem...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of parasitology 1998-10, Vol.84 (5), p.902-906
Main Authors: Sorensen, T.C, Moses, R.A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alberta
Analysis of Variance
Animal traps
Animals
Arvicolinae - parasitology
Biological and medical sciences
biological resistance
Ectoparasitology
Entomology
Female
Female animals
frequency
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
gender differences
host preferences
host range
Host-Parasite Interactions
Ixodes - physiology
Ixodes angustus
Ixodidae
Male
Mammals
Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control
Mice
Parasite hosts
Parasites
Parasitism
Parasitology
Peromyscus - parasitology
Rodent Diseases - parasitology
seasonal variation
Seasons
Sex Factors
sex ratio
Shrews
small mammals
species differences
Species Specificity
Tick Infestations - parasitology
Tick Infestations - veterinary
Ticks
Vectors. Intermediate hosts
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Description
Summary:We examined host preferences and temporal trends of the tick Ixodes angustus on small mammals in north-central Alberta. Small mammals were live-trapped from 1 June to 29 September 1994 and 3 May to 30 June 1995 in mature aspen (Populus tremuloides) forest near Lac La Biche, Alberta. Abundance of female I. angustus was high in early May (0.90 ± 0.20 [SE]) and peaked again in late June (0.58 ± 0.16), whereas abundance of immature I. angustus peaked (1.2 ± 0.35) in mid-July. Red-backed voles (Clethrionomys gapped) and deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) were the most common host species encountered, and tick abundance (number of ticks per animal examined) on these hosts was strongly influenced by species and sex. Clethrionomys gapperi had higher tick abundance (0.73 ± 0.07) than did P. maniculatus (0.04 ± 0.01), and ticks were more abundant on large male C. gapperi (0.97 ± 0.14) than they were on large female C. gapperi (0.36 ± 0.08; P = 0.0007). Characteristics of each species and sex of host in relation to susceptibility to parasitism are discussed.
ISSN:0022-3395
1937-2345
DOI:10.2307/3284617