Abstract

Bartonella are hemoparasites exploiting a range of mammals as reservoir hosts. Several species are zoonotic pathogens. Fleas, lice, and other arthropods, such as ticks, have been implicated as vectors. While the competence of ticks as vectors of Bartonella species has recently been demonstrated, the epidemiological significance of ticks as vectors of Bartonella species in wildlife populations remains unknown. We used the presence of deer at study sites to control the presence of Ixodes ricinus ticks, and used this system to determine whether I. ricinus contributes to the epidemiology of Bartonella species infections in small mammals. Ticks were present at all sites with deer, but were absent from all sites without deer; however, the abundance of ticks on small mammals did not affect the probability of wood mice being infected with Bartonella species. Data presented here indicate that I. ricinus is not involved in the transmission of Bartonella in woodland rodents.

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Publisher Full Text

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Authors

Harrison A, Bown KJ, Montgomery WI, Birtles RJ

Institution

School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. aasobhy@yahoo.com

Source

Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.) 12:5 2012 May pg 366-71

MeSH

Animals
Arthropod Vectors
Bartonella
Bartonella Infections
Deer
Demography
Ecosystem
Female
Genetic Variation
Ixodes
Male
Mice
Models, Biological
Murinae
Northern Ireland
Risk Factors

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22217173