Suitability of moose, elk, mule deer, and white-tailed deer as hosts for winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus)

Abstract

We evaluated the suitability of four species of North American Cervidae as hosts for the winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) by comparing the numbers and weights of engorged female ticks recovered from experimentally infested moose (Alces alces), elk (Cervus elaphus), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Each host was exposed to approximately equivalent infestations (~1 larva/cm2). A higher percentage of ticks were recovered as engorged females from moose (8.0%) than from elk (0.23%) or mule deer (0.60%). No engorged female ticks were recovered from white-tailed deer. Female ticks engorged on moose were larger (0.533 ± 0.169 (SD) g) than those engorged on elk (0.414 ± 0.136 g) or mule deer (0.418 ± 0.138 g). Alopecia occurred on all infested animals but was extensive only on moose. Our findings support field data suggesting that moose are the most important and the most severely affected hosts of winter ticks.