Control of ticks with bait boxes
Control of Immature Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) on Rodent
Reservoirs of Borrelia burgdorferi in a Residential Community of
Southeastern Connecticut
Authors: Marc C. Dolan; Gary O. Maupin; Bradley S. Schneider;
Christopher Denatale; Nick Hamon; Chuck Cole; Nordin S. Zeidner; Kirby
C. Stafford
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology, November 2004, vol. 41, no. 6,
pp. 1043-1054(12)
Publisher: Entomological Society of America
Abstract:
A 3-yr community-based study was conducted on residential properties on
Mason's Island, Mystic, CT, to determine the efficacy of a
rodent-targeted acaricide (fipronil) to control immature Ixodes
scapularis (Say) on Peromyscus leucopus. Results indicated that
modified commercial bait boxes were effective as an acaricide delivery
method for reducing nymphal and larval tick infestations on
white-footed mice by 68 and 84%, respectively. Passive application of
fipronil significantly reduced the infection rate of Borrelia
burgdorferi among white-footed mice by 53%. Moreover, the abundance of
questing I. scapularis {*filter*}s on treated properties was reduced by 77%
and fewer were infected with spirochetes (31%) compared with untreated
sites (47%) after 3 yr of treatment. Likewise, the abundance of
host-seeking nymphs was significantly reduced on treated properties by
Quote:
>50%. Finally, infection rates in flagged nymphal ticks for both B. burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum were reduced by 67 and 64%, respectively, after only 2 yr of treatment. Results from this 3-yr trial indicate that the use of fipronil passively applied to reservoir animals by bait boxes is an environmentally acceptable means to control ticks, interrupt the natural disease transmission cycle, and reduce the risk of Lyme disease for residents of treated properties.
