American Black Bears as Hosts of Blacklegged Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Northeastern United States

Journal of Medical Entomology
Christine P ZolnikThomas J Daniels

Abstract

Ticks and whole blood were collected from American black bears (Ursus americanus Pallas) between October 2011 and October 2012 across four counties in northwestern New Jersey, an area where blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis Say) and their associated tick-borne pathogens are prevalent. Adult American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis Say) were the most frequently collected tick species in late spring, whereas adult and nymphal blacklegged ticks were found in both the late spring and fall months. Additionally, for blacklegged ticks, we determined the quality of bloodmeals that females acquired from black bears compared with bloodmeals from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimmerman), the most important host for the adult stage of this tick species. Measures of fecundity after feeding on each host species were not significantly different, suggesting that the bloodmeal a female blacklegged tick acquires from a black bear is of similar quality to that obtained from a white-tailed deer. These results establish the American black bear as both a host and quality bloodmeal source to I. scapularis. Thus, black bears may help support blacklegged tick populations in areas where they are both present. In addition, samples of bla...Continue Reading

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Citations

Aug 2, 2016·Journal of Wildlife Diseases·Lori S H WestmorelandRicardo G Maggi
Jun 29, 2017·Journal of Wildlife Diseases·Delaina SkinnerSusan E Little
Feb 13, 2019·Journal of Medical Entomology·James L OcciDina M Fonseca
Apr 23, 2021·Journal of Medical Entomology·Jean I TsaoGraham J Hickling

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