PMID: 11931263Apr 5, 2002Paper

Comparative behavior of different life-cycle stages of Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) to human-produced stimuli

Journal of Medical Entomology
M Vassallo, C Pérez-Eid

Abstract

Nymphs of Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758), I. scapularis Say, 1821, and I. pacificus Cooley & Kohls, 1943 are epidemiologically the most dangerous stage for transmission of Lyme disease to humans. Many factors play a role in the epidemiological significance of the nymphs. In this study, we address the question of whether nymphs show a greater tendency than adults to accept humans as their host. To evaluate this, we have compared the host acceptance behavior of nymphs and adults (males and females) with respect to a human in Rambouillet forest, a focus of Lyme disease. Individual ticks (nymph, male or female) located on a herbaceous stem were exposed to different stimuli (e.g., approach, stem movement, breathing), and the response of each individual to these stimuli was noted. Tick responses were categorised into classes (from 0 to 3) according to their intensity. Statistical analysis carried out on 22 ticks allowed us to compare the behavior of the nymph stage with respect to males and females. Despite the small sample sizes, it appears that nymphs are more responsive to a human than are the adults.

References

Sep 1, 1995·The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·J R Clover, R S Lane
Nov 15, 2000·European Journal of Epidemiology·J N RobertsonP Stewart
May 17, 2001·Experimental & Applied Acarology·M VassaloC Pérez-Eid

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Citations

Aug 17, 2010·International Journal of Health Geographics·Christian KiffnerFerdinand Rühe
Mar 7, 2009·Journal of Vector Ecology : Journal of the Society for Vector Ecology·A ZákovskáH Martiníková
Jul 30, 2005·Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases·Louise Stjernberg, Johan Berglund
Jan 11, 2020·Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association·Martin KulmaTerezie Bubová

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