scholarly journals Influence of Nesting Material Composition on Tick Tube Use by Peromyscus leucopus

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan Mandli ◽  
Sydney E Ring ◽  
Susan M Paskewitz

Host-targeted acaricides are a valuable tool for the reduction of ticks and tick-borne disease. Tick tubes (also known as tick control tubes) are commercially available products containing permethrin-treated nesting materials. Through superficial acaricide application to Peromyscus mice, tick tubes reduce populations of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say. Results of prior field trials have varied, suggesting that mouse behavior as well as the scale of the intervention and the composition of the local host community are important determinants of efficacy. Here we evaluated behaviors related to nest material collection by P. leucopus. Two forms of nest materials used in commercial tick tube products (cotton batting and balls) were assessed through side-by-side comparisons over a four-week period. We quantified cotton uptake by monitoring weekly changes in material weight and used video surveillance to categorize and assess mouse behaviors. The odds of cotton batting being taken from tubes was 2.14 times greater than cotton balls but the process was less efficient; mice removed 0.35 g less cotton batting for each removal event and required 2.17 times longer to complete the removal. While cotton balls were readily carried in the jaws of mice, batting required separating smaller fragments from the mass before placement in the oral cavity. Video surveillance suggested that a small number of mice were super users and responsible for 22% of the 119 visits in which material was removed. Combined, material weight loss and video-captured removal events improve our understanding of host usage of nest materials but also raise questions about dissemination of the material in nests of the local mouse community.

Author(s):  
Lars Eisen ◽  
Kirby C Stafford

Abstract Lyme and other tick-borne diseases are increasing in the United States. Development of tick control tools have focused primarily on the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say. Application of acaricides or entomopathogenic fungal agents to kill host-seeking ticks or ticks on rodents can suppress I. scapularis abundance in residential landscapes, but evidence is lacking for impact on human tick bites or tick-borne disease. Similar studies remain limited for the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.). Other knowledge gaps include how well homeowners and pest control companies perform in the broadcast application of tick-killing products, relative to high efficacy reported in research studies, and the tick-killing potential of natural product formulations exempt from Environmental Protection Agency registration. Area-wide control based on preventing ticks from feeding on their main reproductive host, the white-tailed deer, can suppress populations of both I. scapularis and A. americanum. Some studies also suggest an impact on Lyme disease cases, but this needs to be further validated in larger-scale intervention studies. The effectiveness, scale, cost, and implementation of various tick management strategies are important considerations in efforts to reduce human tick encounters and tick-borne disease. Additional barriers include weak incentives for industry and academia to develop, test, and register new tick and pathogen control technologies, including vaccines targeting humans, tick reproductive hosts, or wildlife pathogen reservoirs. Solutions will need to be ‘two-pronged’: improving the tick and pathogen control toolbox and strengthening the public health workforce engaging in tick control at local and state levels.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-118
Author(s):  
Bahtiar Wilantara ◽  
Raharjo Raharjo

This study aims to develop an analog compression tester measuring instrument into a digital compression tester as a measurement tool that can provide effectiveness and efficiency to users.                     This research is a research and development or R&D. This research was conducted in several steps, namely: problem identification, information gathering, product design, product manufacture, expert validation, product revision, testing, final production. The development of analog compression tester was first validated by material experts, media experts, and 15 students, and 5 students for field trials. The subjects of this study were vocational students at Taman Karya Madya Teknik Kebumen. Data collection techniques used in this study using instruments in the form of a questionnaire. The data analysis technique of this research is descriptive qualitative and quantitative descriptive percentage.                 The results of the development of digital compression tester designs are: 1) the tools and materials used are electric drill, grinding, cutter, goggles, gloves, masks, ruler, acetaminine welding, screwdriver, scissors, digital dial pressure gauge, hose, spark plugs, clamps , and nepel, 2) the manufacturing process that starts from the cutting process, the hole drilling process, the welding process and the process of connecting between components, 3) the workings of digital compression tester design that is reading the pressure or compression of the machine displayed on the monitor digitally using dial pressure digital gauge, 4) the test results obtained from the validation results from: a) material experts at 89% or Eligible; b) media experts at 85% or reasonable; c) response of field trial students in terms of ease of use and reading of 90% or feasible. Thus, the conclusion that the digital compression tester measuring instrument declared feasible to use for measurement.


1970 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Gilbert

SUMMARYThere is no official scheme for testing disinfectants and detergent/disinfectants for use in the retail food trade and few recommended procedures have been given for the cleaning of equipment with these agents. Therefore, field trials were carried out in a large self-service store. Comparisons were made of the various cleaning efficiencies, as determined by bacterial plate counts, of detergent and disinfectant solutions and machine cleaning oils applied with either clean cloths or disposable paper towels to items of equipment. The most satisfactory results were always obtained when anionic detergent (0·75 % w/v) and hypochlorite (200 p.p.m. available chlorine) solutions were applied in a ‘two-step’ procedure.Tests were made to compare the calcium alginate swab-rinse and the agar sausage (Agaroid) techniques for the enumeration of bacteria on stainless steel, plastic, formica and wooden surfaces before and after a cleaning process. Although recovery rates were always greater by the swab-rinse technique, the agar sausage technique was considered to be a useful routine control method for surface sampling.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen L. Knapp ◽  
Nancy A. Rice

Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, andBabesia microti, a causative agent of babesiosis, are increasingly implicated in the growing tick-borne disease burden in the northeastern United States. These pathogens are transmitted via the bite of an infected tick vector,Ixodes scapularis, which is capable of harboring and inoculating a host with multiple pathogens simultaneously. Clinical presentation of the diseases is heterogeneous and ranges from mild flu-like symptoms to near-fatal cardiac arrhythmias. While the reason for the variability is not known, the possibility exists that concomitant infection with bothB. burgdorferiandB. microtimay synergistically increase disease severity. In an effort to clarify the current state of understanding regarding coinfection withB. burgdorferiandB. microti, in this review, we discuss the geographical distribution and pathogenesis of Lyme disease and babesiosis in the United States, the immunological response of humans toB. burgdorferiorB. microtiinfection, the existing knowledge regarding coinfection disease pathology, and critical factors that have led to ambiguity in the literature regarding coinfection, in order to eliminate confusion in future experimental design and investigation.


Author(s):  
Terry L Schulze ◽  
Robert A Jordan

Abstract We compared the ability of product formulations representing a synthetic pyrethroid acaricide (Talstar P Professional Insecticide), a natural product-based acaricide (Essentria IC3), and an entomopathogenic fungal acaricide (Met52 EC Bioinsecticide) to suppress Ixodes scapularis Say and Amblyomma americanum (L.) nymphs when applied following USEPA approved manufacturers’ label recommendations for tick control using hand-pumped knapsack sprayers before the beginning of their seasonal activity period in the spring. We applied Met52 EC Bioinsecticide (11% Metarhizium anisopliae Strain F52) to five 100 m2 plots (10.6 ml AI/plot) in mid-April 2020. Two weeks later at the end of April 2020, we treated an additional five 100 m2 plots each with either Talstar P Professional Insecticide (7.9% bifenthrin @ 2.5 ml AI/plot) or Essentria IC3 (10% rosemary oil, 5% geraniol, and 2% peppermint oil @ 86.6 ml AI/plot). Weekly sampling of all plots through the end of June 2020 showed that both Met52 EC Bioinsecticide and Essentria IC3 failed to maintain a 90% suppression threshold for I. scapularis, compared to control plots, and required two additional applications over the course of the trial. In contrast, Talstar P Professional Insecticide suppressed 100% of I. scapularis nymphs and ≥96 and 100% of A. americanum nymphs and adults, respectively. Such pre-season applications of synthetic pyrethroids significantly reduce the early season acarological risk for exposure to host-seeking ticks as well as the frequency of acaricide applications.


Author(s):  
André C. Uys ◽  
Ivan G. Horak ◽  
Alan Harrison

This survey of ixodid ticks was the first to compare the species composition and population dynamics of free-living ticks in intensive, sable antelope breeding enclosures, now commonplace in commercial wildlife ranching in South Africa, with those of multi-herbivore enclosures. The species composition, abundance and seasonal abundance of questing ixodid ticks on the vegetation in intensive breeding enclosures for sable antelope (Hippotragus niger), on which strategic tick control is practised, were compared with those of ticks in a multi-species herbivore enclosure surrounding the breeding enclosures in which no tick control is practised. A total of eight ixodid tick species were collected by drag-sampling the woodland and grassland habitats in each enclosure type monthly from July 2011 to July 2013. Rhipicephalus decoloratus, a potential vector of fatal tick-borne disease in sable antelopes, was the most abundant, accounting for 65.4% of the total number of ticks collected in the sable enclosures, whilst representing only 25.4% of number of ticks collected in the multi-species herbivore enclosure. Rhipicephalus decoloratus and R. evertsi evertsi were more abundant than R. appendiculatus (both p < 0.05) and Amblyomma hebraeum (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). Rhipicephalus decoloratus larvae were collected throughout the year, with peak collections in November 2012 and October to December 2013 in the sable enclosures; and in April/May 2012 and February/April 2013 in the multi-species herbivore enclosure. More R. decoloratus were recovered in the second year than in the first year in the grassland habitat of the sable enclosures (V = 7.0, p < 0.05) possibly as a result of acaricide resistance. The apparent temporal over-abundance of R. decoloratus in sable antelope breeding enclosures, in the face of strategic tick control, is of concern and requires further investigation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
NFN Tasliah ◽  
NFN Ma'sumah ◽  
Joko Prasetiyono

<p>Rice lines for increasing grain yield derived from Code variety that have loci associated to the spikelet number and early heading date (qTSN4 and qDTH8 locus, respectively) have been developed. The objectives of this research were to molecularly analyze, to evaluate the yield of Code-qTSN4 and Code-qDTH8 lines in the field, and to obtain the lines with yield potential of at least 10% higher than that shown by Code. The study was conducted in October 2016 to March 2017. The study was divided into two activities: molecular verification of the qTSN4, qDTH8, and Xa7 loci using specific markers and field trials at two locations in West Java, i.e. Sukamandi Experimental Station and Cianjur farmer’s paddy field. The genetic materials used were 56 rice genotypes consisted of 49 lines (Code-qTSN4 and Code-qDTH8) and 7 check varieties. Molecular analysis showed that all rice lines tested contained qTSN4, qDTH8, and Xa7 loci. All of the loci were in homozygous stage indicating that they were pure lines. Field trial results showed that Cianjur location gave much better on yield component variables than that in Sukamandi. The highest increase in spikelet number was shown by B6-4 planted at Cianjur with increase of 30.06% and B12-2 planted at Sukamandi with increase of 25.15% compared to Code. Both lines were classified as Code-qTSN4 line group. The qTSN4 and qDTH8 loci proved to increase yield more than 20% compared to Code. A total of 34 lines resulted from this study can be used for advanced yield trials conducted at several agro-ecologically different locations.</p>


Behaviour ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Auke-Florian Hiemstra ◽  
Barbara Gravendeel ◽  
Menno Schilthuizen

Abstract Here we present the first cases of birds using artificial plants as nest material. We report our findings for the common coot (Fulica atra) from Leiden, the Netherlands, in 2019. This is the first population of freshwater birds studied for its use of anthropogenic nest materials, and together with another report from the same year, the earliest case of an entire bird population with plastic in all nests. We also report the first artificial plants used as nesting material by birds, and discuss the implications of their usage as such.


BioScience ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (9) ◽  
pp. 746-756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison A Snow

Abstract Genetic engineering of wild populations has been proposed for reducing human diseases by altering pathogens’ hosts. For example, CRISPR-based genome editing may be used to create white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) that are resistant to the Lyme disease spirochete vectored by blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis). Toward this goal, academic researchers are developing Lyme-resistant and tick-resistant white-footed mice, which are a primary pathogen reservoir for Lyme disease in the United States. If field trials on small, experimental islands are successful, the project would scale up to the larger islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, and possibly to the mainland, most likely with a local gene drive to speed the traits’ proliferation, pending approvals from relevant constituents. Despite considerable publicity, this project has yet to be evaluated by independent professional ecologists. In the present article, I discuss key ecological and evolutionary questions that should be considered before such genetically engineered mice are released into natural habitats.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document