Western Connecticut State University Danbury, Connecticut
In many suburban areas of the Northeastern United States, blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) are commonly found on residential properties and within backyard landscapes are most abundant in areas located within and adjacent to forested regions. The specific factors leading to tick encounters by humans in the peridomestic setting, however, is still not well understood. Using a randomized block study design, we examined human risk for blacklegged tick exposure by conducting four common activities (walking, sitting, kneeling, and kneeling while moving hands in the vegetation) for one minute each in two habitat types: forested leaf litter and brushy ecotone vegetation. Between 2018-2022, a total 2245 one-minute activities yielded an overall tick encounter rate of 0.11 ticks/minute (0.037 nymphs/minute and 0.075 adults/minute). Adult I. scapularis were 40% more likely to be encountered while moving compared to stationary activities. Approximately three-quarters of all nymphal I. scapularis ticks were encountered during activities conducted in leaf litter vegetation compared to brushy vegetation. Ticks encountered were most frequently detected below the hip for both adults (88%) and nymphs (70%). The results of this study can help inform recommendations for personal prevention measures in tick endemic areas.
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