Investigating Disease Transmission by Winter Ticks on Moose to Enhance Maine’s Resource-Based Economy
Principal Investigator: Pauline Kamath (UMaine, School of Food and Agriculture)
Partners: Anne Lichetnwalner (UMaine, School of Food and Agriculture)
Abstract: Tick-borne diseases can have negative impacts on Maine’s economy, including both through the direct effects to human and domestic animal health and the indirect effects on participation in outdoor recreation and tourism. Moose, in particular, are an important natural resource in the state and some moose populations in the Northeast have experienced dramatic declines due to winter tick infestations. The proposed study will examine the pathogens carried by winter ticks on moose, the relationship between pathogen strains and moose health, and the potential for transmission to humans, livestock and other wild animals. It will also investigate the factors driving tick population dynamics and movement across the landscape. The results will provide data to inform the state’s management of moose and to develop strategies for reducing tick-borne disease infection risks to humans and livestock. This project would also provide research training opportunities to an undergraduate student and provide data to seed future research proposals.