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Volume 18, Number 12—December 2012
Research

Reservoir Competence of Wildlife Host Species for Babesia microti

Michelle H. HershComments to Author , Michael Tibbetts, Mia Strauss, Richard S. Ostfeld, and Felicia Keesing
Author affiliations: Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, USA (M.H. Hersh, M. Tibbetts, M. Strauss, F. Keesing); and Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York, USA (M.H. Hersh, R.S. Ostfeld)

Main Article

Table 1

Host species tested for Babesia microti reservoir competence, southeastern New York, USA, 2008–2010*

Host species Common name No. hosts tested No. ticks tested Mean no. ticks sampled per host (range)
Mammals

Blarina brevicauda

 Northern short-tailed shrew 28 534 19.1 (12–25)

Didelphis virginiana

 Virginia opossum 24 464 19.3 (11–25)

Glaucomys volans

 Northern flying squirrel 5 84 16.8 (6–25)

Mephitis mephitis

 Striped skunk 2 31 15.5 (10–21)

Peromyscus leucopus

 White-footed mouse 17 308 18.1 (11–25)

Procyon lotor

 Raccoon 21 396 18.9 (10–25)

Sciurus carolinensis

 Eastern gray squirrel 18 333 18.5 (10–25)

Sorex cinereus

 Masked shrew 6 41 6.8 (4–10)

Tamias striatus

 Eastern chipmunk 15 245 16.3 (10–25)

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

 Eastern red squirrel 15 295 19.7 (11–25)
Birds

Catharus fuscescens

 Veery 15 310 20.7 (10–25)

Dumetella carolinensis

 Gray catbird 13 240 18.5 (10–24)

Hylocichla mustelina

 Wood thrush 18 318 17.7 (10–25)

Turdus migratorius

 American robin 17 293 17.2 (8–23)

*Number of ticks tested per host can include samples from either natural tick loads or experimental infestations and are not representative of total tick loads.

Main Article

Page created: November 20, 2012
Page updated: November 20, 2012
Page reviewed: November 20, 2012
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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