Mather T N, Spielman A
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1986 Jan;35(1):182-6. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1986.35.182.
To test the possibility that immature deer ticks (Ixodes dammini) may concentrate in the nests of their mouse hosts, we recorded their pattern of detachment. In laboratory experiments, most engorged larvae (greater than 90%) and nymphs (greater than 80%) detached from hamsters between 1200-2000 hours when the 14-hr photophase began at 0600 hours. Time of drop-off was similar regardless of when ticks attached to hosts, but attachment late in the day delayed drop-off by one full day. Ticks detached similarly from naturally-infested Peromyscus leucopus. A post-attachment cue or cues appeared to regulate time of detachment. Such synchronous diurnal detachment may serve to concentrate ticks in the nests of their nocturnal mouse hosts, thereby enhancing pathogen transmission.
为了测试未成熟的黑脚硬蜱（Ixodes dammini）可能集中在其鼠类宿主巢穴中的可能性，我们记录了它们的脱落模式。在实验室实验中，大多数饱血幼虫（超过90%）和若虫（超过80%）在1200 - 2000时从仓鼠身上脱落，此时14小时的光照阶段于0600时开始。无论蜱虫何时附着在宿主身上，脱落时间都相似，但在当天晚些时候附着会使脱落延迟一整天。蜱虫从自然感染的白足鼠身上脱落的情况类似。附着后的一个或多个线索似乎调节着脱落时间。这种同步的昼夜脱落可能有助于将蜱虫集中在其夜间活动的鼠类宿主的巢穴中，从而增强病原体的传播。
