A multiple year investigation of Ixodes scapularis, tick-borne pathogens, and plant and animal communities in maple-dominated forests

Spatial and interannual variation among tick abundance and tick-borne pathogen prevalence in maple hardwood forests, a dominant forest type in Wisconsin, were investigated. The average density of questing nymphs in the five forests surveyed spanned 2-30.8 nymphs/1000m² in 2012, 4.2-64.9 nymphs/1000m² in 2013, and 0.4-22.3 nymphs/1000m² in 2014. Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi infection in all questing nymphs collected in 2012, 2013, and 2014 ranged from 0-36.8%, 0-24%, and 0-50.0%, respectively, with an average prevalence of 23.5% in 2012, 14.9% in 2013 and 23.1% in 2014. The average prevalence of B. burgdorferi in Peromyscus leucopus was higher than in P. maniculatus. Average Anaplasma phagocytophilum infections in questing nymphal Ixodes scapularis were 2.7% in 2012, 3.4% in 2013 and 6.15% in 2014. Coinfections in ticks were uncommon with an average of 2.7% in 2012, 1.4% in 2013, and 3.2% in 2014. Maple-dominated forests in Wisconsin vary considerably in the number of questing nymphs, diversity of small mammal communities, and vegetation characteristics regardless of the proximity or superficial similarity between these forests. Sampling of I. scapularis in Wisconsin maple-dominated forests resulted in evidence for greater densities of questing nymphs and densities of B. burgdorferi-infected nymphs compared to many locations in the northeastern United States.