A Dynamic Population Model to Investigate Effects of Climate and Climate-Independent Factors on the Lifecycle of Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae)

Author:

Ludwig, A, Ginsberg, HS, Hickling, GJ, and Ogden, NH

Publication type:

Journal Article

Publication date:

2016-01

Journal/Series title:

Journal of Medical Entomology

Volume:

Issue:

URL:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26502753

Abstract:

A model constructed to simulate the full lifecycle of A. americanum successfully predicted observed tick activity at the three U.S. study locations. Some differences between observed and simulated seasonality patterns were observed, however, identifying the need for research to refine some model parameters. In simulations run using temperature data for Montreal, deterministic die-out of A. americanum populations did not occur, suggesting the possibility that current climate in parts of southern Canada is suitable for survival and reproduction of this tick.