SIMULATION OF MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE BLACKLEGGED TICK (ACARI, IXODIDAE) AND THE LYME-DISEASE SPIROCHETE, BORRELIA-BURGDORFERI

A computer model (LYMESIM) was developed to simulate the effects of ma nagement technologies on populations of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes s capularis Say, and the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi Jo hnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt & Brenner in eastern North America. T echnologies considered in this study were area-wide acaricide, acarici de self-treatment of white-footed mice and white-tailed deer, vegetati on reduction, and white-tailed deer density reduction. Computer simula tions were run with normal weather patterns for coastal Connecticut an d New York. Results showed that area-wide acaricide, vegetation reduct ion, or a combination of these technologies would be useful for short- term seasonal management of ticks and disease in small recreational or residential sites. Acaricide self-treatment of deer appears to be the most cost-effective technology for use in long-term management progra ms in large areas. Simulation results also suggested that deer density reduction should be considered as a management strategy component. In tegrated management strategies are presented that could be used in pil ot tests and operational tick and tick-borne disease programs.