In my post-doc position in the Veterinary Entomology Lab at Penn State, I studied the ecology of ticks and tick-borne diseases in Pennsylvania. The blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) is the most commonly-encountered tick in Pennsylvania and is known to transmit the pathogen that causes Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi). Lyme disease is a major issue in Pennsylvania, where the Commonwealth currently ranks #1 in terms of the total number of Lyme disease cases in humans in the US. To combat the rising number of cases, my position investigated several topics related to the blacklegged tick and its ecology, including its phenology, relationships with small mammal hosts, co-occurrence with other ectoparasites, and behavior. I combined these experiences with doing outreach and Extension work with Penn State Extension to not only make communities aware of ticks and tick bite prevention, but to also engage and empower these communities to take action to protect themselves and their families from tick-borne diseases.
Tick Safe: Tick phenology on university-affiliated properties
With over 1,500 academic institutions in the northeast, tick encounter risk stems from recreational encounters as well as educational encounters, putting students, staff, and faculty affiliated with these institutions at risk for tick bites and tick-borne diseases. For example, Penn State has courses that may take students into forested areas for coursework, putting faculty, staff, and students at risk for tick bites during the extent of the course. In order to understand the risk of tick bites that may occur as a result of outdoor-based courses or recreation, we conducted tick dragging on university-affiliated properties and conducted pathogen testing on ticks collected from the field. This project also included other aspects that may affect tick abundance such as animal community composition and abiotic factors.
Ectoparasite patterns on small mammals
Small mammals, most notably the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus spp.), play an important role in sustaining blacklegged tick populations in Pennsylvania. The VEL lab conducted field work to investigate the distribution of ticks found on small mammals in forested areas. In addition, we were interested in the role that fleas may have played while co-occurring on the same small mammal hosts utilized by ticks.
Relevant Papers:
Brown, J.E., Tiffin, H.S., Pagac, A., Poh, K.C., Evans, J.R., Miller, T.M., Herrin, B.H., Sutherland, C., and Machtinger, E.T. 2023. Differential burdens of blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) on sympatric rodent hosts. Journal of Vector Ecology. Accepted.
Behavioral responses of Ixodes scapularis to host-derived semiochemicals
Given that white-footed mice are a major host for the blacklegged tick, we were interested in understanding the role that host-derived odors might have on tick behavior. By identifying host odors responsible for attracting (or repelling) ticks, we can develop new surveillance and control tools against ticks.