The long-term objective of this research are to learn more about the genetics and host preferences of the Ixodes tick vector of Lyme disease in the U.S., to determine if the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi is present in the southeastern coastal states, and whether this disease may become a public health problem in this region of the future. These questions will be answer, at least in part, by (1) detailed investigations of the three U.S. Ixodes tick species known to be vectors of B. burgdorferi; (2) by extensive surveys of I. scapularis and (and I. dammini when collected) for presence of B. burgdorferi; and (3) screening of wild and domestic animal sera for presence of B burgdorferi antibodies.
Specific aims are to (1) establish whether I. dammini (principal vector of Lyme disease in northeastern and northcentral U.S.), I. pacificus (vector in the pacific coastal area) and I scapularis (proven laboratory vector of B. burgdorferi from the southern U.S.) are reproductively isolated from each other; (2) evaluate the intra-and interspecific genetic variability of each species; (3) conduct comparative feeding experiments of immatures of the three Ixodes species on small mammals, birds and reptiles; (4) conduct host attraction experiments of these immature ticks to mammals birds and reptile; (5) continue quantitative ecological and bionomic studies of I. scapularis; (6) map the coastal north/south geographic distribution of I. scapularis and I dammini, and determine if I. dammini is extending its range southward; (7) initiate two types of surveys for presence of Lyme disease spirochetes, (a) a serological survey of selected deer, horses, dogs, small mammals, birds and lizards in the southeastern coastal states (particularly Georgia) and (b) a screening of suspect ticks for presence of B. burgdorferi. Descriptive and experimental approaches involving laboratory and field investigations will be employed. Techniques will involve interspecific hybridizations, chromosomal analyses (classical karyotypes and several banding techniques including fluorescent stains), electrophoretic isozyme analyzes, Ouchterlony double- diffusion procedures, western blotting, ELISA, fluorescent- antibody (FA) and indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) techniques using monoclonial antibody to Borrelia burgdorferi.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01AI024899-01
Application #
3138151
Study Section
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology Study Section (TMP)
Project Start
1987-07-01
Project End
1990-06-30
Budget Start
1987-07-01
Budget End
1988-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Georgia Southern University
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
063828383
City
Statesboro
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30460
Durden, Lance A; Polur, Ram N; Nims, Todd et al. (2004) Ectoparasites and other epifaunistic arthropods of sympatric cotton mice and golden mice: comparisons and implications for vector-borne zoonotic diseases. J Parasitol 90:1293-7
Durden, Lance A; Oliver Jr, James H; Banks, Craig W et al. (2002) Parasitism of lizards by immature stages of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis (Acari, Ixodidae). Exp Appl Acarol 26:257-66
Durden, L A; Oliver Jr, J H; Kinsey, A A (2001) Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and spirochetes (spirochaetaceae: spirochaetales) recovered from birds on a Georgia Barrier Island. J Med Entomol 38:231-6
Steinlein, D B; Durden, L A; Cannon, W L (2001) Tick (Acari) infestations of bats in New Mexico. J Med Entomol 38:609-11
Zhu, X X; Oliver Jr, J H (2001) Cockroach allatostatin-like immunoreactivity in the synganglion of the American dog tick Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae). Exp Appl Acarol 25:1005-13
Whitlock, J E; Fang, Q Q; Durden, L A et al. (2000) Prevalence of Ehrlichia chaffeensis (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) in Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) from the Georgia coast and Barrier Islands. J Med Entomol 37:276-80
Merten, H A; Durden, L A (2000) A state-by-state survey of ticks recorded from humans in the United States. J Vector Ecol 25:102-13
Durden, L A; Hu, R; Oliver Jr, J H et al. (2000) Rodent ectoparasites from two locations in northwestern Florida. J Vector Ecol 25:222-8
Felz, M W; Chandler Jr, F W; Oliver Jr, J H et al. (1999) Solitary erythema migrans in Georgia and South Carolina. Arch Dermatol 135:1317-26
Oliver Jr, J H; Magnarelli, L A; Hutcheson, H J et al. (1999) Ticks and antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi from mammals at Cape Hatteras, NC and Assateague Island, MD and VA. J Med Entomol 36:578-87

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