ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINANTS OF IXODES DAMMINI EXPANSION

IXODES DAMMINI 扩张的环境决定因素

• 批准号: 2069525
• 负责人: MARK L WILSON
• 金额: $ 12.48万
• 依托单位: YALE UNIVERSITY
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 1994
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1994-05-01 至 1999-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2069525
• 关键词: Ixodes; Lyme disease; animal ecology; animal population study; computer simulation; disease vectors; environment; field study; geographic site; hamsters; host organism interaction; insect control; laboratory rabbit; mathematical model; model design /development; statistics /biometry

Lyme disease has recently emerged as the most prevalent vector-borne illness in the United States, and evidence suggests that its distribution is continuing to expand. Ixodes dammini, the sole vector of importance in northeastern U.S., is widely but patchily distributed in parts of the region. During the past 2 decades, the range of I. dammini and Lyme disease has spread to encompass much of the coastal northeast; enigmatically, movement inland has been slow and spatially variable. Neither low frequency of new tick introductions nor unavailability of appropriate vertebrate hosts can adequately explain why this vector has not more rapidly invaded certain regions. We propose to use laboratory and field experiments, and a novel technique for modeling and analysis of spatial relations termed Geographical Information Systems (GIS), to determine how non-host, environmental factors influence the survival and limit the range of I. dammini in the northeastern U.S. Specifically, we shall determine I. dammini abundances throughout the states of Connecticut and Massachusetts by sampling ticks on hunter-killed white-tailed deer, and calculating variation in tick abundances over the entire region of both states. These results will be integrated with the spatial distributions of climatic, vegetation, soil, altitude and other environmental data from the same areas. Using GIS, we will analyze the environmental determinants of this tick's macrogeographic distribution, and model the rate and direction of its spread. Other laboratory and field studies will examine the effects of various microclimatic conditions on the off-host survival of coastal northeastern and northern mid-western populations of I. dammini. Microgeographic variation in I. dammini abundance will be evaluated in relation to microclimate and vegetation, while controlling for habitat use by radio-collared deer. The long-term impact of habitat manipulation on I. dammini abundance will be studied by various experiments that may be useful in local tick control efforts. Our ultimate goal is to determine the environmental conditions that presently limit the distribution of I. dammini, where and at what rate new infestations might be anticipated, and how the impact on public health resulting from the expanding range of this Lyme disease vector may be lessened.

莱姆病最近已成为最流行的媒介传播疾病 疾病在美国流行，有证据表明其分布 正在继续扩大。 达米尼硬蜱 (Ixodes dammini)，唯一重要的媒介 美国东北部，广泛但零散地分布在部分地区 地区。 在过去的 20 年里，I. dammini 和莱姆病的分布范围 疾病已蔓延至东北沿海大部分地区； 令人费解的是，向内陆的流动一直很缓慢，而且空间上变化很大。 新蜱虫引入的频率不低，也不缺乏 适当的脊椎动物宿主可以充分解释为什么该载体具有 没有更快地入侵某些地区。 我们建议使用实验室 和现场实验，以及一种建模和分析的新技术 称为地理信息系统 (GIS) 的空间关系 确定非宿主、环境因素如何影响生存和 限制 I. dammini 在美国东北部的活动范围 具体来说，我们将确定 I. dammini 的丰度 康涅狄格州和马萨诸塞州对被猎人杀死的蜱虫进行采样 白尾鹿，并计算蜱丰度的变化 两国的整个地区。这些结果将与 气候、植被、土壤、海拔等空间分布 来自同一地区的环境数据。 我们将利用 GIS 来分析 这种蜱的宏观地理分布的环境决定因素， 并对其传播速度和方向进行建模。 其他实验室及 实地研究将检查各种小气候条件的影响 关于东北沿海和中西部北部的脱离寄主生存 I. dammini 种群。 I. dammini 的微观地理变异 将根据微气候和植被来评估丰度， 同时控制无线电项圈鹿对栖息地的使用。 长期来看 栖息地操纵对 I. dammini 丰度的影响将通过 可能对当地蜱虫控制工作有用的各种实验。 我们的最终目标是确定环境条件 目前限制 I. dammini 的分布，新分布的地点和速度 可能会出现感染，以及对公共健康的影响 由于这种莱姆病媒介的范围扩大而导致的结果可能是 减少了。