Human attachment site preferences of ticks parasitizing in New York

Bibliographic Details
Title: Human attachment site preferences of ticks parasitizing in New York
Authors: Charles Hart, Laura A. Schad, Jahnavi Reddy Bhaskar, Erin S. Reynolds, Christopher P. Morley, Saravanan Thangamani
Source: Scientific Reports, Vol 12, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2022)
Publisher Information: Nature Portfolio, 2022.
Publication Year: 2022
Collection: LCC:Medicine
LCC:Science
Subject Terms: Medicine, Science
More Details: Abstract Ticks transmit several arthropod-borne pathogens in New York State. The primary human-biting ticks in this region are Ixodes scapularis, Amblyomma americanum, and Dermacentor variabilis. Body regions where tick bites human vary depending on the tick species and life stage, and clothing worn by the host. A community tick submission system was used to acquire information about bite-site location prior to pathogen testing to understand species and life stage-specific body-segment preferences. These data resulted in the identification of species-specific preferences for location, with D. variabilis preferentially biting the head and neck and A. americanum preferring the thighs, groin, and abdomen. Ixodes scapularis was found across the body, although it showed a significant life stage difference with adults preferring the head, midsection, and groin, while nymphs/larvae preferred the extremities. Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi resulted in a significant change in attachment site. This provides an assessment of which body region ticks of the most common species in New York are likely to be found.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2045-2322
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25486-7
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/ec97cf205d814122aad9c983fdd2299f
Accession Number: edsdoj.97cf205d814122aad9c983fdd2299f
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
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More Details
ISSN:20452322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-022-25486-7
Published in:Scientific Reports
Language:English