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Don MacNeill
donmacneill@eastlink.ca
Web address:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/
120316094452.htm=20
=20
Lyme Disease Surge Predicted for Northeastern US: Due to Acorns and =
Mice, Not Mild Winter
enlarge
White-footed mouse. (Credit: Rick Ostfeld)ScienceDaily (Mar. 16, 2012) =
=97 The northeastern U.S. should prepare for a surge in Lyme disease =
this spring. And we can blame fluctuations in acorns and mouse =
populations, not the mild winter. So reports Dr. Richard S. Ostfeld, a =
disease ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in =
Millbrook, NY.
What do acorns have to do with illness? Acorn crops vary from =
year-to-year, with boom-and-bust cycles influencing the winter survival =
and breeding success of white-footed mice. These small mammals pack a =
one-two punch: they are preferred hosts for black-legged ticks and they =
are very effective at transmitting Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium =
that causes Lyme disease.
"We had a boom in acorns, followed by a boom in mice. And now, on the =
heels of one of the smallest acorn crops we've ever seen, the mouse =
population is crashing," Ostfeld explains. Adding, "This spring, there =
will be a lot of Borrelia burgdorferi-infected black-legged ticks in our =
forests looking for a blood meal. And instead of finding a white-footed =
mouse, they are going to find other mammals -- like us."
For more than two decades, Ostfeld, Cary Institute forest ecologist Dr. =
Charles D. Canham, and their research team have been investigating =
connections among acorn abundance, white-footed mice, black-legged =
ticks, and Lyme disease. In 2010, acorn crops were the heaviest recorded =
at their Millbrook-based research site. And in 2011, mouse populations =
followed suit, peaking in the summer months. The scarcity of acorns in =
the fall of 2011 set up a perfect storm for human Lyme disease risk.
Black-legged ticks take three bloodmeals -- as larvae, as nymphs, and as =
adults. Larval ticks that fed on 2011's booming mouse population will =
soon be in need of a nymphal meal. These tiny ticks -- as small as poppy =
seeds -- are very effective at transmitting Lyme to people. The last =
time Ostfeld's research site experienced a heavy acorn crop (2006) =
followed by a sparse acorn crop (2007), nymphal black-legged ticks =
reached a 20-year high.
The May-July nymph season will be dangerous, and Ostfeld urges people to =
be aware when outdoors. Unlike white-footed mice, who can be infected =
with Lyme with minimal cost, the disease is debilitating to humans. Left =
undiagnosed, it can cause chronic fatigue, joint pain, and neurological =
problems. It is the most prevalent vector-borne illness in the U.S., =
with the majority of cases occurring in the Northeast.
Ostfeld says that mild winter weather does not cause a rise in tick =
populations, although it can change tick behavior. Adult ticks, which =
are slightly larger than a sesame seed, are normally dormant in winter =
but can seek a host whenever temperatures rise several degrees above =
freezing. The warm winter of 2011-2012 induced earlier than normal =
activity. While adult ticks can transmit Lyme, they are responsible for =
a small fraction of tick-borne disease, with spring-summer nymphs posing =
more of a human health threat.
Past research by Ostfeld and colleagues has highlighted the role that =
intact forest habitat and animal diversity play in buffering Lyme =
disease risks. He is currently working with health departments in =
impacted areas to educate citizens and physicians about the impending =
surge in Lyme disease.
Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
|=20
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-------
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Cary Institute =
of Ecosystem Studies.=20
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further =
information, please contact the source cited above.
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<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>Don MacNeill<BR><A=20
href=3D"mailto:donmacneill@eastlink.ca">donmacneill@eastlink.ca</A></FONT=
></DIV><BR>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D"100%">
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<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop><IMG=20
src=3D"http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logo-print.gif" =
width=3D275=20
height=3D90></TD>
<TD vAlign=3Dcenter align=3Dleft><EM>Web=20
address:</EM><BR><STRONG> <A=20
=
href=3D"http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/">http://www.science=
daily.com/releases/2012/03/</A><BR> 12031609=
4452.htm</STRONG></TD>
<TD id=3Dprintbutton vAlign=3Dcenter =
align=3Dright><BR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<H1>Lyme Disease Surge Predicted for Northeastern US: Due to Acorns and =
Mice,=20
Not Mild Winter</H1>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 20px 20px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: right">
<DIV=20
style=3D"PADDING-BOTTOM: 0pt; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; =
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<DIV=20
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2px; BACKGROUND: rgb(255,255,255); FONT-SIZE: 11px; BORDER-TOP: =
rgb(153,153,153) 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: rgb(153,153,153) 1px solid; =
PADDING-TOP: 2px"><IMG=20
style=3D"MARGIN-TOP: -3px" alt=3D"" align=3Dmiddle=20
src=3D"http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/magnifier.png" width=3D12 =
height=3D12><A=20
href=3D"http://images.sciencedaily.com/2012/03/120316094452-large.jpg"=20
rel=3Dthumbnail>enlarge</A></DIV></DIV><A=20
href=3D"http://images.sciencedaily.com/2012/03/120316094452-large.jpg"=20
rel=3Dthumbnail><IMG border=3D0 alt=3D""=20
src=3D"http://images.sciencedaily.com/2012/03/120316094452.jpg" =
width=3D300=20
height=3D186></A><BR>
<DIV=20
style=3D"PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0pt; =
PADDING-TOP: 5px"=20
id=3Dcaption><EM>White-footed mouse. (Credit: Rick =
Ostfeld)</EM></DIV></DIV>
<P id=3Dfirst><SPAN class=3Ddate>ScienceDaily (Mar. 16, 2012)</SPAN> =97 =
The=20
northeastern U.S. should prepare for a surge in Lyme disease this =
spring. And we=20
can blame fluctuations in acorns and mouse populations, not the mild =
winter. So=20
reports Dr. Richard S. Ostfeld, a disease ecologist at the Cary =
Institute of=20
Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY.</P>
<P>What do acorns have to do with illness? Acorn crops vary from =
year-to-year,=20
with boom-and-bust cycles influencing the winter survival and breeding =
success=20
of white-footed mice. These small mammals pack a one-two punch: they are =
preferred hosts for black-legged ticks and they are very effective at=20
transmitting <EM>Borrelia burgdorferi</EM>, the bacterium that causes =
Lyme=20
disease.</P>
<P>"We had a boom in acorns, followed by a boom in mice. And now, on the =
heels=20
of one of the smallest acorn crops we've ever seen, the mouse population =
is=20
crashing," Ostfeld explains. Adding, "This spring, there will be a lot =
of=20
<EM>Borrelia burgdorferi</EM>-infected black-legged ticks in our forests =
looking=20
for a blood meal. And instead of finding a white-footed mouse, they are =
going to=20
find other mammals -- like us."</P>
<P>For more than two decades, Ostfeld, Cary Institute forest ecologist =
Dr.=20
Charles D. Canham, and their research team have been investigating =
connections=20
among acorn abundance, white-footed mice, black-legged ticks, and Lyme =
disease.=20
In 2010, acorn crops were the heaviest recorded at their Millbrook-based =
research site. And in 2011, mouse populations followed suit, peaking in =
the=20
summer months. The scarcity of acorns in the fall of 2011 set up a =
perfect storm=20
for human Lyme disease risk.</P>
<P>Black-legged ticks take three bloodmeals -- as larvae, as nymphs, and =
as=20
adults. Larval ticks that fed on 2011's booming mouse population will =
soon be in=20
need of a nymphal meal. These tiny ticks -- as small as poppy seeds -- =
are very=20
effective at transmitting Lyme to people. The last time Ostfeld's =
research site=20
experienced a heavy acorn crop (2006) followed by a sparse acorn crop =
(2007),=20
nymphal black-legged ticks reached a 20-year high.</P>
<P>The May-July nymph season will be dangerous, and Ostfeld urges people =
to be=20
aware when outdoors. Unlike white-footed mice, who can be infected with =
Lyme=20
with minimal cost, the disease is debilitating to humans. Left =
undiagnosed, it=20
can cause chronic fatigue, joint pain, and neurological problems. It is =
the most=20
prevalent vector-borne illness in the U.S., with the majority of cases =
occurring=20
in the Northeast.</P>
<P>Ostfeld says that mild winter weather does not cause a rise in tick=20
populations, although it can change tick behavior. Adult ticks, which =
are=20
slightly larger than a sesame seed, are normally dormant in winter but =
can seek=20
a host whenever temperatures rise several degrees above freezing. The =
warm=20
winter of 2011-2012 induced earlier than normal activity. While adult =
ticks can=20
transmit Lyme, they are responsible for a small fraction of tick-borne =
disease,=20
with spring-summer nymphs posing more of a human health threat.</P>
<P>Past research by Ostfeld and colleagues has highlighted the role that =
intact=20
forest habitat and animal diversity play in buffering Lyme disease =
risks. He is=20
currently working with health departments in impacted areas to educate =
citizens=20
and physicians about the impending surge in Lyme disease.</P>
<DIV style=3D"PADDING-TOP: 5px"><EM>Share this story on =
<STRONG>Facebook</STRONG>,=20
<STRONG>Twitter</STRONG>, and <STRONG>Google</STRONG>:</EM></DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; WIDTH: 350px; =
PADDING-RIGHT: 0pt; OVERFLOW: hidden; PADDING-TOP: 10px"=20
id=3Dsocial_networks_top>
<DIV><BR></DIV></DIV>
<P><EM>Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:</EM></P>
<DIV=20
style=3D"PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; LINE-HEIGHT: 25px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; =
WIDTH: 350px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0pt; OVERFLOW: hidden; PADDING-TOP: 5px"=20
id=3Dsocial_other_bottom>
<DIV class=3D"addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "><SPAN=20
class=3Daddthis_separator>|</SPAN> </DIV></DIV>
<HR>
<P><STRONG>Story Source:</STRONG></P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>The above story is <A=20
href=3D"http://www.caryinstitute.org/press_2012-03-15.html" =
rel=3Dnofollow=20
target=3D_blank>reprinted</A> from materials provided by <A =
class=3Dblue=20
href=3D"http://www.ecostudies.org/" rel=3Dnofollow =
target=3D_blank><STRONG><SPAN=20
id=3Dsource>Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies</SPAN></STRONG></A>. =
</P>
<P><EM>Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For =
further=20
information, please contact the source cited=20
above.</EM></P></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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