Landscape ecology of the deer tick and its associated Lyme disease pathogen

鹿蜱及其相关莱姆病病原体的景观生态学

基本信息

批准号：
RGPIN-2019-04730
负责人：
Kulkarni, Manisha
金额：
$ 2.04万
依托单位：
University of Ottawa
依托单位国家：
加拿大
项目类别：
Discovery Grants Program - Individual
财政年份：
2021
资助国家：
加拿大
起止时间：
2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=737820
关键词：
Landscape ecology deer tick its

项目摘要

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is carried by a range of vertebrate reservoir hosts and transmitted to people and animals by infected tick vectors. In Canada, the incidence of Lyme disease is increasing rapidly in association with the northward range expansion of the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis). Despite the growing importance of Lyme disease in many parts of Canada, many aspects of Lyme disease ecology remain unclear, especially in areas of recent introduction. This includes knowledge on the geographic distribution of the tick and pathogen, the importance of different species as hosts for ticks and Lyme disease, and the pathways of tick and pathogen spread at the landscape scale. This research aims to: 1) determine the host range and prevalence of B. burgdorferi in free-ranging mammals and ticks through field studies; 2) understand the ecological determinants of reservoir host, vector and pathogen niche through ecological modelling; 3) characterize the genetic diversity of reservoir hosts, vectors and pathogens through molecular studies; and, 4) investigate potential pathways of tick and Lyme disease spread using population and landscape genetics. My proposed research combines field studies of reservoir hosts and tick vectors, molecular and genetic characterization of reservoir hosts, vectors and pathogens, and spatial and statistical modelling in order to better understand Lyme disease ecology and spread in peri-urban environments situated at the northern range front of deer tick invasion. These studies will increase our understanding of the involvement of small mammal reservoir hosts and tick vectors in B. burgdorferi transmission and spread, and reveal how Lyme disease transmission patterns are affected by environmental factors. Furthermore, these studies will identify factors associated with the spread of deer ticks and B. burgdorferi in a region of recent Lyme disease introduction. Notably, this research will help to inform vector-borne disease surveillance and control strategies, which will ultimately reduce disease spread and prevent infections in domestic animals and humans.

莱姆病是由伯氏疏螺旋体细菌引起的，该细菌由一系列脊椎动物储存宿主携带，并通过受感染的蜱媒介传播给人和动物。在加拿大，随着鹿蜱（肩突硬蜱）向北扩张，莱姆病的发病率迅速增加。尽管莱姆病在加拿大许多地区的重要性日益增加，但莱姆病生态学的许多方面仍不清楚，特别是在最近引入的地区。这包括有关蜱和病原体地理分布的知识、不同物种作为蜱和莱姆病宿主的重要性，以及蜱和病原体在景观尺度上的传播途径。本研究的目的是：1）通过实地研究确定伯氏疏螺旋体在自由放养的哺乳动物和蜱中的宿主范围和流行情况； 2）通过生态模型了解储存宿主、媒介和病原体生态位的生态决定因素； 3）通过分子研究表征储存宿主、媒介和病原体的遗传多样性； 4) 利用群体和景观遗传学研究蜱虫和莱姆病传播的潜在途径。我提出的研究结合了储存宿主和蜱媒介的实地研究、储存宿主、媒介和病原体的分子和遗传特征，以及空间和统计模型，以便更好地了解莱姆病生态和在北部地区城郊环境中的传播鹿蜱入侵前。这些研究将加深我们对小型哺乳动物储存宿主和蜱虫媒介在伯氏疏螺旋体传播和传播中的参与的理解，并揭示环境因素如何影响莱姆病的传播模式。此外，这些研究将确定与最近莱姆病传入地区鹿蜱和伯氏疏螺旋体传播相关的因素。值得注意的是，这项研究将有助于为媒介传播疾病的监测和控制策略提供信息，从而最终减少疾病传播并预防家畜和人类的感染。