SUPPRESSION OF IXODES SCAPULARIS BY TOPICAL SELF-APPLICATION OF PERMETHRIN BY WHITE-TAILED DEER

Authors: SOLBERG, VICTORIA - W.REED ARMY INST.RESEARCH; SCHECK, J. - W.REED ARMY INST.RESEARCH; WIRTZ, J. - W.REED ARMY INST.RESEARCH; Miller, John; Pound, Joe; OLSON, J. - W.REED ARMY INST.RESEARCH; ARMSTRONG, E. - W.REED ARMY INST.RESEARCH

Submitted to: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/9/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A topical acaricide applicator-feeder for deer was developed and patented by the USDA (Kerrville, TX) for area-wide control of tick species that utilize deer or ungulates as the major adult host. This device is being field-tested at Goddard Flight and Space Center, (Greenbelt, MD), an area infested with Ixodes scapularis and endemic for Lyme disease. Four applicator-feeders dispensed 10% permethrin (Brute\R/, Y-Tex, Cody, WY) for 8 mos. to a herd of 70 deer. Deer located at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 2 miles away, served as untreated controls. Pretreatment sampling showed no significant differences between the numbers of ticks parasitizing deer at each location. Preliminary posttreatment sampling of deer (yearlings and adults) from Goddard showed no tick parasitization, while the untreated control deer were parasitized with 1-48 I. scapularis (Mann-Whitney, P-0.008, n=5). Deer hair was analyzed by HPLC to determine the dose and location of permethrin received by the sampled deer. The USDA applicator-feeder is described and usage to prevent other tick-borne diseases, such as ehrlichiosis and heartwater disease, is discussed.