Prevention of Lyme Disease
. . .
Ixodes scapularis are widely distributed across the United States, in many areas that LD is not found to be endemic. One reason for the lack of Lyme disease in these areas is that in many parts of the US, lizards are the natural host for Ixodes ticks, and
B. burgdorferi is killed when exposed to lizard blood. Thus, eliminating the hosts, or reducing vector competence for an organism (i.e. preventing the vector from acquiring or transmitting an organism) may be an effective strategy for preventing Lyme disease in humans. The major amplifying host for Borrelia burgdorferi in the U.S. is the white footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) [38, 39]. However, chipmunks (Tamias striatus), shrews and other small vertebrates are becoming increasingly recognized as important hosts ...
One method that has been employed for reducing local tick burden is to apply acaricides to mice, thus killing attached larval and nymphal ticks on the major amplifying host. Cardboard tubes filled with acaricide impregnated cotton can be placed around a yard or other area where mice are known to thrive. The mice then utilize the cotton in lining their nest, coating themselves with the acaricide and eliminating ticks from themselves and their nest-mates. This product appears to be effective in some environments, such as island ecologies and not in others (mainland) perhaps due to the differential impact of alternative hosts [43–45].
Although they are not important as an amplifying reservoir of B. burgdorferi, deer are an important host for maintenance of tick populations. Adult ticks prefer the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) as the major host. The effect on Ixodes population by removal or culling of deer has been mixed.
On Great Island, Cape Cod Massachusetts, and Monhegan Island, ME, the virtual elimination of deer resulted in a marked decrement in both tick population and cases of Lyme disease [46, 47]. Subtotal deer reduction did not result in a meaningful decrease in I. scapularis ticks [48]. A recent study conducted in northern New Jersey measured the number of questing Ixodes ticks during a 3 year period of active culling of the deer population. A reduction in deer density of 46.7% resulted in no decrement of tick population. In addition, human cases of LD were not affected to any discernable degree during the study period. [49]. Thus, the impact of subtotal removal of deer on Lyme disease transmission may be minimal.
![[thinking]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/010.gif "Thinking [thinking]")
Little bastards.
As long as you let it dry you should be fine.
