Life Sciences Commons^™

De-Worming White-Footed Mice As A Strategy For Reducing Microparasite Transmission To Ticks, Stephanie Dunn

Stephanie Dunn

This study applies the concept that disease dynamics involve multiple interacting factors and that a host organism’s immune response to simultaneous infections involves a system of tradeoffs. Past research has shown that chronic infection with intestinal worms has a negative impact on a host’s immune response to additional infection. The white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) is an excellent reservoir for the agents of Anaplasmosis, Lyme disease, and Babesiosis. P. leucopus passes microparasites to ticks at high rates. Thus, pathogen dynamics within this host are of major interest in the effort to prevent human infection. Here, we investigate the potential impact of …