Borrelia burgdorferiHas Minimal Impact on the Lyme Disease Reservoir HostPeromyscus leucopus

Abstract

The epidemiology of vector-borne zoonotic diseases is determined by encounter rates between vectors and hosts. Alterations to the behavior of reservoir hosts caused by the infectious agent have the potential to dramatically alter disease transmission and human risk. We examined the effect of Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiological agent of Lyme disease, on one of its most important reservoir hosts, the white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus. We mimic natural infections in mice using the vector (Black-legged ticks, Ixodes scapularis) and examine the immunological and behavioral responses of mouse hosts. Despite producing antibodies against B. burgdorferi, infected mice did not have elevated white blood cells compared with uninfected mice. In addition, infected and uninfected mice did not differ in their wheel-running activity. Our results suggest that infection with the spirochete B. burgdorferi has little impact on the field activity of white-footed mice. Lyme disease transmission appears to be uncomplicated by pathogen-altered behavior of this reservoir host.

Peromyscus mice as a model for studying natural variation

“…As a natural reservoir for Borrelia burgdorferi —the bacterial agent of Lyme disease— Peromyscus is the subject of much research on the pathogenesis and transmission of the disease (Bunikis et al, 2004; Ramamoorthi et al, 2005; Schwanz et al, 2011; Baum et al, 2012). Peromyscus also features in ecological modeling efforts to determine how the diversity of the tick host community impacts disease risk (LoGiudice et al, 2003, 2008).…”

Reductions in Human Lyme Disease Risk Due to the Effects of Oral Vaccination on Tick-to-Mouse and Mouse-to-Tick Transmission

“…Total immunoglobulin G (IgG) against OspA in mouse blood was determined by ELISA, as previously described (Schwanz et al 2011). Briefly, Nunc MaxiSorp 96-well plates were coated with purified rOspA protein (10 lg/mL) overnight at 4°C.…”

The ecology of Lyme borreliosis risk : interactions between lxodes ricinus, rodents and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato

“…infection (Schwanz et al 2011a), which may increase energy demand of the host (Murray et al 1998). A higher CO2 production of the infected rodents may, therefore, have attracted more ticks than the uninfected rodents.…”

“…This principle also implies that very few rodents contribute to the vectors' lifecycle and subsequently the enzootic cycle of vector pathogens in nature , Perkins et al 2003, Brunner and Ostfeld 2008. Many factors are suggested to play a role in this heterogeneity of tick burden, like the heterogeneous dispersal of larvae and rodents in the environment, rodent sex, rodent age, immune response, genetic differences of host susceptibility, tick behaviour and host behaviour (Kaufman 1989, De Boer et al 1993b, Craine et al 1995, Wikel 1996, Schmidt et al 1999 It is know that parasitism of rodents increases energy demand (Demas et al 1997, Schwanz et al 2011a, which increases foraging time and food uptake (Scantlebury et al 2007). This would subsequently increase encounter rates with ticks and their pathogens.…”