Understanding the Patterns of Distribution and Abundance of Lyme Disease Carrying Ticks and their Hosts

Author

Julio Ruiz, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Date of Award

4-2017

Document Type

Thesis

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Dr. Teresa P. Feria

Second Advisor

Dr. Maria D. Esteve-Gassent

Third Advisor

Dr. Tamer Oraby

Abstract

Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgodorferi and spreads to their hosts by the bites of infected Ixodes scapularis ticks. In the United States, Lyme disease is typically found in the northeast but in recent years the disease has begun to be found further south and west than previously before. Yet, today, little information can be found about the patters of distribution and abundance of ticks and their host. The main goal of this research work was to expand the knowledge of the abundance and distribution of ticks and host. Based on tick collection data obtained from Maikis (2016), a mathematical model was developed analyze potential patters on the distribution and abundance of ticks based on variables such as site (peridomestic vs. sylvan) and species host (different families of mammals). The main findings showed no correlation between site type or host species and tick distribution and abundance in Texas. Further research should include the addition of other ecological explanatory variables such as elevation, temperature, precipitation.

Comments

Copyright 2017 Julio Ruiz. All Rights Reserved.

Recommended Citation

Ruiz, J. (2017). Understanding the Patterns of Distribution and Abundance of Lyme Disease Carrying Ticks and their Hosts [Undergraduate honors thesis]. Scholarworks @ UTRGV. https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/honors/5