Habitat Structure Associated with<i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i>Prevalence in Small Mammals in New York State

Prusinski, Melissa A; Chen, Haiyan; Drobnack, Jason M.; Kogut, Sarah; Means, Robert G.; Howard, John J.; Oliver, JoAnne; Lukacik, Gary; Backenson, P. Bryon; White, Dan S.

doi:10.1603/0046-225x-35.2.308

Cited by 36 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…2). Plot-level variables that potentially impact the spatial distribution of ticks or tick infection prevalence were selected a priori based on previously published studies (Eisen et al 2003, Rand et al 2003, Diuk-Wasser et al 2006, Prusinski et al 2006. Plot elevation was used as the topographic variable in the model (Glass et al 1995).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Forest structure variables assessed were: total species richness, understory species richness, tree stem density, and Quercus spp. biomass (Prusinski et al 2006). Microclimate variables that were most likely to limit I. pacificus also were evaluated and included minimum relative humidity in the dry season, and maximum temperature in the dry season (Estrada-Pena 2002, Brownstein et al 2003, Diuk-Wasser et al 2006).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of Abiotic and Environmental Factors on the Density and Infection Prevalence ofIxodes pacificus(Acari: Ixodidae) WithBorrelia burgdorferi

Swei¹,

Meentemeyer

Briggs

2011

J Med Entomol

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The abiotic and biotic factors that govern the spatial distribution of Lyme disease vectors are poorly understood. This study addressed the influence of abiotic and biotic environmental variables on Ixodes pacificus Cooley & Kohls (Acari:Ixodidae) nymphs, because it is the primary vector of Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson, Schmidt, Hyde, Steigerwaldt & Brenner in the far-western United States. Three metrics of Lyme disease risk were evaluated: the density of nymphs, the density of infected nymphs, and the nymphal infection prevalence. This study sampled randomly located plots in oak (Quercus spp.) woodland habitat in Sonoma County, CA. Each plot was drag-sampled for nymphal ticks and tested for B. burgdorferi infection. Path analysis was used to evaluate the direct and indirect relationship between topographic, forest structure and microclimatic variables on ticks. Significant negative correlations were found between maximum temperature in the dry season and the density of infected ticks in 2006 and tick density in 2007, but we did not find a significant relationship with nymphal infection prevalence in either year. Tick density and infected tick density had an indirect, positive correlation with elevation, mediated through temperature. This study found that in certain years but not others, temperature maxima in the dry season may constrain the density and density of infected I. pacificus nymphs. In other years, biotic or stochastic factors may play a more important role in determining tick density.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Abiotic and Environmental Factors on the Density and Infection Prevalence ofIxodes pacificus(Acari: Ixodidae) WithBorrelia burgdorferi

Swei¹,

Meentemeyer

Briggs

2011

J Med Entomol

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“…We predicted that questing I. ricinus nymphs would be more likely to be infected with B. burgdorferi s.l. in conditions favourable for competent transmission hosts (small mammals and birds), such as in mixed or deciduous (rather than coniferous) woods, or depending on ground vegetation type (see Prusinski et al 2006).…”

Section: Objectives and Predictionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental determinants ofIxodes ricinusticks and the incidence ofBorrelia burgdorferisensu lato, the agent of Lyme borreliosis, in Scotland

et al. 2012

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Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common arthropod-borne disease of humans in the Northern hemisphere. In Europe, the causative agent, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, is principally vectored by Ixodes ricinus ticks. The aim of this study was to identify environmental factors influencing questing I. ricinus nymph abundance and B. burgdorferi s.l. infection in questing nymphs using a largescale survey across Scotland. Ticks, host dung and vegetation were surveyed at 25 woodland sites, and climatic variables from a Geographical Information System (GIS) were extracted for each site. A total of 2397 10 m2 transect surveys were conducted and 13 250 I. ricinus nymphs counted. Questing nymphs were assayed for B. burgdorferi s.l. and the average infection prevalence was 5·6% (range 0·8-13·9%). More questing nymphs and higher incidence of B. burgdorferi s.l. infection were found in areas with higher deer abundance and in mixed/deciduous compared to coniferous forests, as well as weaker correlations with season, altitude, rainfall and ground vegetation. No correlation was found between nymph abundance and infection prevalence within the ranges encountered. An understanding of the environmental conditions associated with tick abundance and pathogen prevalence may be used to reduce risk of exposure and to predict future pathogen prevalence and distributions under environmental changes.

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“…Such studies include those on ecosystem management (Mas and Dietsch 2003), estimation of biomass and forest productivity (Ryan et al 2004, Lefsky et al 2005, habitat structure of organisms in the forest canopy (Nadkarni and Sumera 2004, Prusinski et al 2006), flux exchange of forests (Tanaka et al 2004), and modeling of stand dynamics (Watanabe et al 2004, Toda et al 2007). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ground-based estimation of leaf area index and vertical distribution of leaf area density in a Betula ermanii forest

Sumida¹,

Nakai²,

Yamada³

et al. 2009

Silva Fenn.

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We developed a ground-based method for estimating leaf area index (LAI) and vertical distribution of leaf area density (LAD) for two Betula ermanii plots, combining an allometric method for tree leaf area with the MacArthur-Horn (MH) method using a portable laser rangefinder, including a correction for changes in leaf inclination angle along the vertical gradient measured with a portable digital protractor from a canopy access tower in each plot. Vertical distribution of projected leaf area density obtained by the MH method (LAD MH ) was transformed to relative distribution for allotting fixed LAI to different heights. Hence, we first developed an allometric method for estimating tree leaf area for LAI determination. Trunk cross-sectional area at branching height (AB) was accurately estimated (r 2 = 0.97) from ground-based measurements of tree dimensions. We used this method to apply pipe model allometry between tree leaf area and AB, and estimated LAI (4.56 and 4.57 m 2 m -2 ). We then examined how leaf inclination angle affected estimation of the vertical distribution of actual LAD. Leaf inclination angle measurements revealed that actual LAD in the upper canopy was 1.5-1.8-times higher than LAD MH , because of steep leaf inclination, while the correction factor was 1.15-1.25 in the lower canopy. Due to the difference among heights, vertical distribution of LAD estimated with correction for vertical change in leaf inclination was more skewed to the upper canopy than that without correction. We also showed that error in LAD distribution can result if horizontal canopy heterogeneity is neglected when applying the MH method.

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Habitat Structure Associated withBorrelia burgdorferiPrevalence in Small Mammals in New York State

Cited by 36 publications

References 42 publications

Influence of Abiotic and Environmental Factors on the Density and Infection Prevalence ofIxodes pacificus(Acari: Ixodidae) WithBorrelia burgdorferi

Influence of Abiotic and Environmental Factors on the Density and Infection Prevalence ofIxodes pacificus(Acari: Ixodidae) WithBorrelia burgdorferi

Environmental determinants ofIxodes ricinusticks and the incidence ofBorrelia burgdorferisensu lato, the agent of Lyme borreliosis, in Scotland

Ground-based estimation of leaf area index and vertical distribution of leaf area density in a Betula ermanii forest

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