Borrelia burgdorferi has minimal impact on the lyme disease reservoir host Peromyscus leucopus

Schwanz, Lisa E., Voordouw, Maarten J., Brisson, Dustin, and Ostfeld, Richard S. (2011) Borrelia burgdorferi has minimal impact on the lyme disease reservoir host Peromyscus leucopus. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 11 (2). pp. 117-124.

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View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2009.0215
 
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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.

Item ID: 18810
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1557-7759
Keywords: black-legged ticks, host–vector encounter rates, lyme disease, spirochete, White-footed mice
Date Deposited: 07 Feb 2012 05:44
FoR Codes: 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060203 Ecological Physiology @ 30%
06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0603 Evolutionary Biology > 060307 Host-Parasite Interactions @ 30%
06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060202 Community Ecology (excl Invasive Species Ecology) @ 40%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9604 Control of Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species > 960499 Control of Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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